- The $4-a-month employee head tax despised by Chicago businesses would be cut in half, depriving the city of $23 million in annual revenue, under a surprise ordinance proposed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday.
Emanuel campaigned on a promise to phase out the head tax over four years by lopping off $1 from it each year.
But he opted to do it twice as fast — and eliminate the tax entirely by July 2014 — because the deal that nailed down as many as 2,000 new jobs at a Far South Side Ford plant was contingent on the phase out.
A good move. Decrease the cost of doing business in the city and you'll get businesses moving here, thereby broadening the tax base and alleviating supposed budget crunches. Now cut entitlements, streamline government, reduce the bloated number of aldercreatures and we're actually running a business here.
Can Quinn follow suit?
Can Quinn follow suit?
- Sears officials told ABC7 they traveled to Columbus, Ohio, and Austin, Texas, to look at the possibility of relocating the Hoffman Estates-based company.
Officials said they conducted initial site visits and met with economic development and business leaders in the cities, where they say they were offered "desirable packages" and "qualities of life" for their associates.
However, Sears officials said they are still in communication with Illinois, and they hope to make a decision on whether they will relocate by the end of the years.