With less than one month remaining until the state-mandated deadline to adopt a 2008 Cook County budget, President Todd Stroger told reporters this week he has an alternative plan.

He declined to divulge details because he has not yet discussed the plan with commissioners, but said he intends to release it soon.

"We have all the numbers, and now I just need to be able to reach everyone," Stroger said. "It will be something that reaches the goals that (the commissioners) are trying to reach, and also things that are missing."

Stroger has been unable to secure the nine votes necessary to pass his original budget, which includes a 2 percent increase in the county sales tax.

Unable to reach a compromise on the sales tax proposal, the gridlocked County Board has turned instead to alternative measures to plug the estimated $238 million budget gap. So far, none of the commissioners' proposals have garnered much support.

Most recently, Commissioner Joseph Mario Mareno, D-Chicago, introduced a new vehicle tax that would raise $180 million in new revenue. The so-called "wheel tax" would require Cook County residents to purchase a $40 sticker to display on each vehicle they own.

Vehicle owners living in unincorporated areas of Cook County are already subject to a similar tax.

Stroger said he would support Mareno's proposal to extend the "wheel tax" to all Cook County residents.

At Wednesday's board meeting, the proposal was referred to the Finance Committee.