Daily Herald 4/6/05>

Clenched teeth will remain part of the Lake County commute as voters> today defeated a measure to raise $481 million to untangle gridlock.>

With all 458 precincts reporting, a county sales tax hike of a> half-cent for every $1 spent, was convincingly defeated, 53,598 to> 46,997, unofficial results showed.>

It was the second stinging loss in a year for county leaders, who have> said meaningful progress can't be made on traffic congestion without> more funding. In March 2004, a request for half as much fell 55 percent> to 45 percent.>

The percentage of opposition didn't waver Tuesday and county> officials acknowledged defeat long before final tally.>

"People today are very concerned about any tax whether or not it has> a benefit in their life," said County Administrator Barry Burton.>

Had it passed, the tax hike would have cost residents about $44 a year.> The selling point was a list of projects the county planned to pursue> over 10 years.>

The idea was individual Lake County drivers, no matter where they> lived, would benefit from one or more of the improvements.>

But that included a significant amount of work on state routes.>

"People don't want to be taxed twice. They expect the state to step> forward," said Susan Zingle, an activist from Wadsworth.>

County leaders doubled the proposed tax increase from the last try in> order to make a noticeable dent in what is considered a top concern> among residents and business.>

Anti-tax sentiment, and possibly resentment toward the state, once> again derailed the matter, however.>

"I think we're setting a lousy precedent, it goes beyond roads,"> said county board member Steve Carlson of Grandwood Park.>

"The state legislature is walking away from its responsibilities and> passing it on to local governments.">

The program included widening 36 miles of road and improving 33> intersections.>

Had it passed, the tax hike would have cost residents about $44 a year.>The selling point was a list of projects the county planned to pursue>over 10 years.

On 5 Apr 2005 23:22:39 -0700, in misc.transport.road­ "Rick Powell"> <wrkapowell@ivnet.c­om> wrote:>

Wow. Stunning. Like Joe High Powered Yuppie Lawyer (and his> ex-Lincoln Park Trixie wife) from Lake Forest with their $1.2 million> home can't afford 44 frickin' dollars for better roads.

Archibald Q. Leachington wrote:>

I have to sit back and laugh, myself. It wasn't like this was some> statewide tax where the money could be gathered from Lake Countians> and sent downstate somewhere like Effingham (or even Joliet, as that's> "downstate" to Lake Countians). It was YOUR money to fix YOUR roads> YOU use everyday. It's also for roads which bring YOUR mail to you> and YOUR goods to YOUR local stores. It's not like Lake Countians> would have had to stretch and think about that pesky "Greater Good"> even, it was for THEIR roads to THEIR houses! Wow...>

And, to top it off, two other points which I have to laugh at:>

1. Lake Countians could've even avoided the extra tax by shopping> outside the county, if it bugged them so much, which would play> right into No.2 below...>

2. The sales tax would've been collected from out-of-county res-> idents shopping in Lake County, like at Gurnee Mills. You'd have> people who only occasionally or even rarely USE the roads in> Lake County helping to pay for them! Oh well...

Later,> Chris>

-- > Chris Bessert> Bessert1@aol.com> http://www.michigan­highways.org> http://www.wisconsi­nhighways.org> http://www.ontarioh­ighways.org