Stroger rips Blagojevich for vetoing bill on environment; County Board President says governor ignoring needs at county's forest preserve areas

Cook County Board President John H. Stroger Jr. blasted Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich for vetoing the Forest Preserve District funds he needs to make major and possible life-saving repairs--a stroke of a pen Stroger labeled "irresponsible."

Stroger explained those funds are needed for capital improvements to the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Brookfield Zoo, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County and 16 suburban park districts in the metropolitan area.

He reminded the governor how Senate Bill 83 had received bipartisan support because state lawmakers understood how important these projects are.

Stroger said if repairs and upgrades are not made, especially at the zoo, it will be an accident waiting to happen. The president said the state legislature "recognized its importance and realized that the $1.50 or $2 the average homeowner would have paid annually was a wise investment in the future of these institutions."

But, Stroger is especially irate that the governor's budget director, John Filan, was the one who advised Blagojevich to veto this bill especially since Filan once served as the District's auditor and has "first-hand knowledge of the financial situation I inherited from the Phelan administration."

But, the governor issues a statement saying: "Park districts and forest preserves are central to the life of many communities for recreation, renewal, and quality of life."

And, he admitted that maintaining them is critical. However, the governor said SB 83 proposed one avenue for ensuring that funds are available but that it "relies on increasing property taxes outside the limits set through tax caps and without the voter approval process required by them."

Stroger chided freshmen commissioners who suggested that the District could afford another $7 million in cuts. He said they simply haven't done their homework.

"Current tax rates reflect that the Chicago Park District receives 7.5 percent of the average city property tax bill while the Forest Preserve District receives less than one percent of that same bill and yet provides more than $20 million annually to the Brookfield Zoo and Chicago Botanic Garden," Stroger said.

"I remain committed to working with the governor and the Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners in solving this critical problem," he stated.

But, Blagojevich had other figures showing that property taxes on a home valued at $100,000 would increase by $7 a year to $52 annually depending on the park district.

"In total, the Cook County Forest Preserve District provisions could cost $8.0 million per year in property taxes. I do not support property tax increases outside the limits of the tax cap law," the governor said.

While supporting the intent of this legislation, the governor said he'll create a grant program within the state's bonded capital program that will allow eligible park districts and forest preserve districts to apply for funds to support capital improvements.

Article copyright Sengstacke Enterprises, Inc.