Stroger budget restores jobs, calls for tax hikes

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger unveiled a 2008 budget Wednesday that calls for restoring 1,130 of the 1,800 jobs he slashed in this year's budget. The total 2008 budget of approximately $3.2 billion represents a $206 million increase.

Stroger plans to pay for the new hires and budget increase by bumping up the sales tax by 2 percent, although he has so far failed to garner the nine votes to pass that tax.

In addition, the president wants to hike the tax on parking -- boosting by $1 the cost to park at most downtown parking lots. That represents a 100 percent increase in that tax from $1 to $2.

A gallon of gas would cost you an additional 6 cents - also doubling the county's current take.

Stroger said the new funds are needed to pay for changes necessitated by plans to turn over the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center and the Bureau of Health.

Critics say the county needs to be reformed and the system streamlined before new taxes can even be considered.