Cook County Board kills Schneider tax hike opposition plan

The Cook County Board today pulled Commissioner Tim Schneider's plan to oppose a property tax hike in the county's next budget.

Schneider, a Bartlett Republican, is chairman of the Illinois Republican Party and a top ally of Gov. Bruce Rauner, who has called for property tax freezes.

But Board President Toni Preckwinkle sided with Commissioner John Daley, who objected in part because it's Preckwinkle's job to present a budget, including revenue proposals.

As a result, the board didn't vote on Schneider's proposal.

“The residents of the county deserve to know if their property taxes will be increased in this next budget as soon as possible,” Schneider said.

The board sided with Preckwinkle by a 10-6 vote.

Commissioner Deborah Sims said it would be unfair for the board to “pin her to the wall” on taxes before Preckwinkle has had a chance to propose a budget. Preckwinkle has called a property tax hike “a last resort.”

“If you were in her position, you would not want us to put you in that position,” Sims said.

Schneider said he'll ask the state's attorney's office about today's maneuver.