Chicago Laundromat Owners Oppose Emanuel's Proposed Water Tax Hike
(CBS) -- Operators of laundromats in the city of Chicago are fighting a proposed increase in the city's water and sewer tax, saying the hike will hurt the poor.
WBBM's Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports from City Hall.
The tax hike is supposed to help shore up the city's largest employee pension fund.
Paul Hansen, president of the Illinois Coin Laundry Association, says the laundromat owners his organization represents anticipate raising prices for each load. That will impact people who don't have washers at home.
"When your largest expense goes up as much as 30 percent, you have to pass that on," Hansen says.
A spokesperson for the Emanuel administration says the mayor does not take the tax increase lightly but notes there are few options when it comes to raising revenue.