Cook County board OKs sales tax incentive

The Cook County board Monday approved a sales tax incentive for retail business to expand or locate in Cook County.

The incentive will have no effect on existing businesses who do not commit to hiring any more workers or increasing sales. But for those who do, the county board will, if the host municipality does as well, commit to rebating as much as half of its take of the sales tax.

Since many towns charge as much as 1.75 percent, and the county charges that amount as well, a retailer could save up to 1.75 percent of the purchase price.

The board voted unanimously for the measure, with the exception of Commissioner Tony Peraica of Riverside.

Peraica criticized the measure as a "scheme" designed to deflect attention from the board for its recent increase of the county sales tax from .75 percent to 1.75 percent, which he voted against.