Metro BRIEFINGS

TAX AND SPEND: An analysis of taxes and spending in northeastIllinois, issued by a consortium called The Regional Partnership,concludes that taxes by most local governments increased faster thanproperty values between 1984 and 1988. In Cook County, billingsincreased 41.5 percent while the equalized assessed valuation rose16.5 percent. In Chicago, billings rose 29.3 percent and equalizedassessed valuation rose 24.7 percent. The analysis also found thatgovernments are relying more on sales taxes and are spending more topay the cost of borrowing. Story on Page 1. CRITICAL DECADE: For 155 years, Chicago has tried to live up to itslake, sometimes failing miserably, sometimes …