Cook County’s notorious soda tax ends today

With the repeal of the Cook County sweetened beverage tax, taxpayers remind elected officials who they represent.

Cook County residents will no longer have to pay the penny-per-ounce sweetened beverage tax starting Dec. 1.

On Oct. 11, the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to repeal the county’s infamous tax on soda and other sweetened drinks. Fifteen of the 17 commissioners voted in favor of the repeal, providing enough support to thwart a possible veto of the ordinance.

For months, commissioners were subject to relentless criticism from taxpayers who overwhelmingly disapproved of the tax. It appears this tax was the tipping point for residents who have had to shoulder of one of the highest tax burdens in the country. From the nation’s highest wireless taxes to taxes on streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify – not to mention a record-breaking property tax increase and the highest sales taxes of any major city in the nation – residents of Chicago and Cook County at large are tapped out. They have made their voices heard.

Shortly after its implementation, one poll commissioned by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association found nearly 87 percent of Cook County residents disapproved of the tax, and in the same poll 80 percent said they believed the tax was being done strictly for money and not for public health. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle later admitted the county’s sweetened beverage tax was always about increasing revenue.

“We chose as a revenue generator a sweetened beverage tax, which had been enacted around the country, both for the revenue and because of the health benefits,” she said according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “But first and foremost, because of the revenue.”

Commissioners proved in November that they could replace revenue from the sweetened beverage tax with cuts. The 2018 budget eliminated more than 1,000 vacant positions and reduced staff to fill a $200 million budget gap. While good news for taxpayers, this is ultimately a small victory as there is significantly more work to do to fix Cook County.

More than 2,200 Cook County workers receive annual pay over $100,000. For career county workers – those who’ll work for 30-plus years – that means pension benefits worth millions of dollars over the course of their retirements.

Career Cook County workers who retired after 2013 with 30-plus years of service receive an average starting pension of $58,000 a year, meaning they’ll receive about $2 million in total benefits over the course of their retirement.

But Cook County commissioners sought new revenues instead of spending reforms.

Thankfully, taxpayers fought back to stop their efforts. And now they should fight for the change needed to truly fix spending problems within Cook County.

Cook County politicians should look to enact meaningful reforms such as introducing a 401(k)-style alternative to failing pension funds, addressing local spending and eliminating tax increment financing districts.

Taxpayers should keep up the pressure on commissioners to adopt these reforms. Otherwise, residents will continue to live under the constant threat of increased taxes and fees.