Here I go on a tax rant again! Yesterday, Mayor Daley released his 2008 budget for Chicago. It’s full of all kinds of taxes, fines and fee increases. There’s of course the biggest property tax increase in Chicago’s history, higher fees for sewer and water, higher liquor taxes, city sticker increases for SUV owners and of course, a new 10-cent tax on each bottle of water.
10 cents per bottle could bring in a lot of loot. According to the International Bottled Water Association, U.S. residents drink more bottled water annually than any other beverage, other than pop.
But is bottled water really worth it? The organization “Think Outside the Bottle” says at least 4 billion pounds of plastic bottles wound up in city landfills last year. And that’s after companies used 17 million barrels of oil to make the bottles.
Now if you’re not buying the “you’re destroying the planet” argument, then let me appeal to your “common sense.” Almost 40% of bottled water comes from the same source as tap water, which has to meet high purity standards. And if you get tap water from a relative or a friend's house, it's free! 
Still not convinced? Then think about this. Most 16oz bottles of water cost about $1.25. Add on the 10-cent tax and you’re paying $1.35. It takes 128 oz, or 8 bottles to equal a gallon. So in essence, you’re paying $10.80 for a gallon of water. That’s more than a gallon of gas or milk, more than a 6 pack of beer, more than an extra value meal at McDonald’s, it’s even more than a martini or margarita at your favorite bar.
Now that I have you’re attention, is a bottle of water worth all of that, plus 10 cents?
Comments (2)
Chicago is becoming the next San Francisco. I wonder how much revenue is lost by forcing to smokers to go to establishments in the suburbs? Sometimes it's little things like this that leaders don't think about.
How many businesses will leave because of a city's ridiculous minimum wage law?
I never go to Chicago nor will the city get any of my money. Sale tax and gas prices are ridiculous.
Posted by Paul Young | October 17, 2007 12:08 AM
Posted on October 17, 2007 00:08
I think Daley is a clown ,with all the pork he has floating around in this city now he wants to tax water.Youre right water is free and Im not paying for his greed ,this whole state has a problem with financial responsibility and now John and Jane Doe has to eat the cost. Its ironic how Napoleon is going to levy H2o when he has his foot soldiers washing sidewalks in the rain or watering medians on LSD but we have to pay a water!!!!
Posted by Mike Ross | October 12, 2007 9:29 AM
Posted on October 12, 2007 09:29