County sales drop as sales tax increases

Rob Olmstead's recent article on an 8 percent decline in retail sales was a sight for sore eyes.

While the data is not conclusive as to whether this decline in actual sales is a direct result of the Cook County sales tax increase in July, common sense should prevail.

As a Palatine resident and small professional services business owner, my family has made sweeping changes in where we make any purchases over $100 and most of the gasoline for our cars in neighboring counties.

We have made this decision only partially to avoid paying the extra money in sales tax.

The primary motivation is send a message to the county government leaders that enough is enough when it comes to raising taxes.

Cook County needs to tighten the belt and reduce its spending frenzy just like its constituents.

Economic upheaval is on the horizon and county, state and federal tax hikes to help subsidize out-of-control spending will be highlighted more now than ever before.

In the next few months, the downward trend in sales revenues in Cook County will continue to decline; of that, let there be no doubt.

Perhaps Mr. Olmstead might consider writing a follow-up article on what I suspect he will discover as an increase in retail sales revenues in the neighboring counties that border Cook?

Robert Guinaugh

Palatine