New Sales Tax to Exempt Cars and Boats for Now

The new Cook County sales tax that kicks in tomorrow will notapply to cars, boats and planes sold in the county - at least notright away.

County Board President Richard J. Phelan said today he wants toexempt big-ticket items from the 0.75 percent tax until Gov. Edgarsigns a bill authorizing the state's Department of Revenue to collectit for Cook County in other counties.

Without that law, Phelan administration officials say, CookCounty residents could go to other counties to avoid the tax.

Phelan is expected to ask the County Board tomorrow to exempttitle property from the tax until Oct. 1, or until Jan. 1 if Edgarvetoes the bill and the county has to …