McHenry County objects to portions of Chicago regional plan

Later this fall, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's board will vote on a 416-page plan that lays out its vision for how Chicago and its suburbs will look and grow over the next 30 years.

McHenry County leaders aren't sure they want to be included in the picture.

County board members Tuesday unanimously endorsed a formal letter to CMAP officials objecting to several key portions of the plan, most notably its call for tax reform that may include imposing a state sales tax on service and ridding the state's flat income tax in favor of a graduated tax.

"The biggest point we want to make is that we do not want any tax increases," said Tina Hill, chairman of the McHenry County Board's planning and development committee. "There's plenty of tax dollars (to the state government). They just have to decide how to spend it."

CMAP officials declined to comment on the letter's contents Tuesday but said they would give it serious consideration. The agency's executive director, Randy Blankenhorn, has accepted an invitation to speak to the county board August 17.

Three years in the making, the agency's Go To 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan outlines a vision for the seven-county Chicago area that includes proposals for reducing pollution, easing traffic congestion, preserving water supplies, more walkable neighborhoods, better parks and improved schools.

McHenry County leaders support many of those proposals, but differ sharply when it comes to the plan's call to consider some tax increases, as well measures that would impose additional costs on commuters who drive to work during peak traffic hours.

The county board's letter also decries what it sees as the plan's shifting of control from local governments to a regional body like CMAP.

"We do not support the expansion of government to run programs such as vehicle mile tracking and congestion pricing on our highways," the letter states. "The plan goes way beyond transportation and land use," it later says. "But to think one size fits all is just not realistic. We have serious reservations how this will affect McHenry County and would appreciate the opportunity to discuss our concerns further with the CMAP Board."

CMAP officials plan to review comments made on the plan since a draft went public earlier this summer and make final changes in the coming weeks, leading up to a vote Oct. 13. The view the plan, visit goto2040.org/plandocs/.