Cook County Secession Movement:Obama Backed Board President Confers With Angry Suburb

The Chicago Tribune reports:

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger is scheduled to answer questions tonight at a community meeting in Palatine, where anger over his push to more than double the county sales tax has prompted talk of the village seceding from the county.

"It's incumbent on him to make it a positive meeting," said County Board Commissioner Peter Silvestri, who also is mayor of Elmwood Park and opposes the sales tax increase. "I believe he can if he's honest and explains his reasoning."

Silvestri also said that although suburban officials likely will try to maintain a cordial tone, some residents might vent their frustration.

"I think there are people out there who are going to be angry," he said. "If it becomes defensive and argumentative, I think it will not have been worth it."

Staff for Stroger arranged the forum after the first-term board president canceled an earlier meeting, set up by Palatine officials, out of fear it would turn into a political attack on his Democratic administration.

Stroger was the prime mover behind the County Board's vote to more than double the county sales tax—to 1.75 percent from 0.75 percent, giving Stroger the funding to hire more than 1,000 new employees and close the county's projected $234 million deficit.

The new tax increase—which confers the dubious distinction on Chicago of having the highest sales tax, 10.25 percent, of any major U.S. city—will add about $426 million annually to the county's coffers.

Not everyone wants supports the Cook County Democratic high tax "lifestyle".Make no mistake:Todd Stroger is the Obama endorsed candidate.