Stroger owes feds $12,000 for unpaid taxes; Board want to know what's up

With Cook County Board President Todd Stroger refusing to explain $11,668 in unpaid federal taxes, county commissioners began demanding he start talking Wednesday.

"(Stroger) should just come clean with whatever the issues are," said Commissioner Gregg Goslin, a Glenview Republican. "Perception is reality and the perception here isn't good."

On Wednesday, Stroger, who is under fire for raising county sales taxes, acknowledged the unpaid income taxes, which led to a federal tax lien on his Chicago bungalow for $11,668.10. County records show the lien was filed in late March.

Yet, he declined to reveal why the taxes weren't paid or any details about his finances leading to the unpaid taxes. A spokesman issued a brief statement Wednesday saying "arrangements were made by the Stroger family to settle the debt."

"The Office of the President will have no further comment regarding this issue," the statement said.

Stroger, a former Chicago alderman, makes about $170,000 a year as county board president.

"His is a public official and there needs to be transparency," said Commissioner Forrest Claypool, a Chicago Democrat who ran gainst Stroger in the 2006 primary. "Whenever elected officials try to stonewall ... it becomes an ongoing issue and an ongoing story."

The politically destabilizing revelation comes as Stroger is facing harsh criticism from increasingly powerful political players over his sales tax increase. He vetoed a full repeal of the 1 percentage point tax hike on Monday and mounted a rally to boost support with black community leaders on Tuesday.

Commissioner Timothy Schneider, a Bartlett Republican who opposed the tax, said it is ironic Stroger would find it hard to pay his taxes.

"You would think he would have some empathy for the taxpayers of Cook County given his current situation," Schneider said. "It is clear Stroger knows how difficult it already is to pay taxes."