FOX Chicago Sunday: Reporter’s Notebook: Unfair tax breaks
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By Dane Placko, FOX 32 News Investigative Reporter - bio | email
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
Last week, FOX Chicago reported on a list of hundreds of people, including a surprising number of politicians, getting homeowners exemptions on multiple properties, which is against the law.
A cook county commissioner, two state senators, and suburban mayors all had to pay back money they got with unfair tax breaks; some, in the thousands of dollars.
Most of them say they were unaware they were getting a second exemption and that it was an honest mistake.
Though, that's probably true, the assessor's office now wants to expand its inquiry to the thousands of people working for Cook County.
Joe Berrios believes that since he had some exemption double dippers in his own office, it's likely to be a county-wide problem.
Fox Chicago has learned that both Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and County Clerk David Orr, have agreed to issue a warning to their employees and an offer of amnesty: pay back what you owe or face some tough punishment if you're caught later.
State Senator John Cullerton talks about the $400 million he believes a big expansion of casino gambling would bring to the beleaguered state treasury.
State Senator John Cullerton talks about the $400 million he believes a big expansion of casino gambling would bring to the beleaguered state treasury.
Tanya Triche with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association says passing the bill to raise minimum wage to $10 an hour would hurt our already fragile economy.
Tanya Triche with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association says passing the bill to raise minimum wage to $10 an hour would hurt our already fragile economy.
Mike Flannery, along with a handful of other Chicago TV journalists, will be inducted Friday into the prestigious "Silver Circle" of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Mike Flannery, along with a handful of other Chicago TV journalists, will be inducted Friday into the prestigious "Silver Circle" of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Chicago Chapter.
