Chicago alderman got a cost-of-living pay increase January 1st. I’m not sure what that makes their salary now but, according to the Better Government Association, it was $100,971 in ‘07.
But, no joke, the raise is totally necessary! I mean, how else are they supposed to afford all the new taxes they sign into law? Like the bottled water tax.
It went into effect on the 1st, the same day as the alderman pay raise. Five cents on every bottle of water you purchase. Seriously, check out the first item on the receipt below.
Yep, right there. Naked and out in the open. Given Chicago politics, I suppose I should be thankful for such transparency…
However, the city may not be able to rely on the 7-day-old source of revenue much longer. As the Sun-Times reports:
The American Beverage Association, the International Bottled Water Association, the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and the Illinois Food Retailers Association are suing the city of Chicago, alleging the tax is invalid and violates the Illinois Constitution, according to a suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.
I’m rallying for the industry groups. Now how do we go about lowering the alderman’s salaries…
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