Tony Michelassi for DuPage County Board

Over the past decade, the County Board has continued to raise property and sales taxes. Despite a $75 million windfall from the Water Reclamation District, and revenue from a sales tax imposed by the State, members of the County Board continue to propose new ideas to squeeze money from the average DuPage taxpayer. Both of my opponents are in favor of a cigarette tax, for example, and one of them even proposes a hotel/motel sales tax. Recently, the Board tabled a proposal for a County-wide stormwater drainage fee; the Chairman and many on the Board, however, are in favor of this idea, which would hit non-profit organizations like schools and churches the hardest.

The fact is, our County government is starting to spend more than it makes, and it’s high time they stopped looking to the taxpayers to foot the bill. As your representative, I will work to oppose new tax ordinances, new fees, and any attempt to balance the Board’s woes on the backs of the average DuPage resident. It’s bad enough that food and gas prices are rising - the government should not be reaching into our pockets any more than they already are.