Some school districts across Will and southwest Cook Counties were celebrating Tuesday night after voters gave the OK to spend millions of dollars to build schools and raise taxes to keep others running.
Other districts, though, were not so lucky.
But for voters in Chaney-Monge School District 88, the 11th time proved a charm.
After failing to pass a tax increase in 10 previous referendums during the last seven years, voters approved a 60-cent increase in the property tax rate by 53 percent to 47 percent.
“Our message finally fell on receptive ears,” said an ecstatic Supt. Gus Tomac. “We’ve finally got the resources to make our dreams come true. We won’t have to skimp anymore.”
Tomac attributed the victory to a continuing voter education campaign. He said each time a proposed tax increase went on the ballot, voters learned a little more about the district’s financial woes.
Faced with one of the more controversial ballot measures, voters in Tinley Park School District 146 approved a $20 million bond issue, proceeds of which are to be used to build a middle school. The measure, which faced opposition from the outset, passed 53 to 47 percent, with strong support from voters in Orland Park and Oak Forest. Tinley Park voters, on the other hand, voted against the proposal by a 52-48 percent ratio.
“We’re happy with the result in Tinley. We thought we’d split it. That was our target,” said Supt. Gerald Hill, who was covered in neon-green silly string after a celebration in the district office.
District 146 officials triggered a controversy when they selected Orland Park as the site of the new school instead of Tinley Park, where most of the district’s students live. School officials eventually changed their minds and picked another new site just south of downtown Tinley Park. But then some downtown merchants vowed to defeat the proposal.
“We have some fences to mend,” said District 146 Board President Allen DeNormandie.
In Consolidated High School District 230, where voters were asked to approve an issue of $118 million in construction bonds, school officials were holding an early celebration. With 90 percent of the precincts counted, the measure was winning by 55 to 45 percent.
The package–five times bigger than the next largest Cook County school bond proposal–would pay for major expansions at District 230’s three high schools.
“The community came through for us,” said an optimistic Debra McGraw, who headed the committee that pushed for the referendum proposal’s passage. “They knew this was something that was needed and weren’t afraid to go for it.”
Supt. Tim Brown said the district’s early efforts to keep voters informed paid off.
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“We shared all the information all along with the public. We gave them options and we went with the option that we thought was supported,” he said.
At Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C, officials had a mixed reaction. Voters approved a $20 million bond package that would be used to build a middle school but defeated a measure to increase taxes by 25 cents.
“I’m pleased,” said Supt. Roberta Berry. “Obviously, the voters understand the need of a school district with a growing population.”
But Berry added that voters’ rejection of a tax increase for the education fund means it will be “extremely difficult, if not impossible, to appropriately staff an additional school and purchase the necessary supplies.”
School issues were not the only referendum proposals facing Will and south suburban Cook voters.
Voters in Homer Township faced three referendum proposals aimed at giving the community more control over future development. Two of the proposals–involving buying open space and launching a park district–include average yearly tax increases of about $65 and $190, respectively.
Voters passed the open space referendum proposal by 60 percent to 40 percent, but defeated the park district measure by 67 percent to 33 percent.
“I am ecstatic,” said Fred Sansone, a township resident who opposed creation of the park district but supported the open space proposal. Homer Township “already has a park system. We don’t need another one.”