If you live in Chicago and pay attention to your utility bills (phone, gas, electric) you’re aware of the taxes the city adds to your utility costs. If you follow the city’s budget wrangling, you may even be aware that utility taxes add up to 100s of millions of dollars, and account for 17.6% of the city’s projected revenues for fiscal 2011 (PDF).
Not all of Chicago’s 100s of suburbs impose utility taxes, and the rates and utilities covered vary widely among those that do. If you’re considering a move to the suburbs, be sure to factor utility taxes, if any, into your budget.
Arlington Heights, for example, had no utility taxes a few years ago, but just voted to raise its rate from 3% to 5% after a “pick your poison” debate over whether the property or utility tax is more regressive.
On a more pleasant note, the above video introduces you to Mayor Arlene Mulder, who tells us why she fell in love with Arlington Heights.