Cook County voters rejected at least a dozen school tax increases Tuesday, despite warnings of dire financial problems ahead.
Amid the widespread fiscal caution, there was one notable exception: Voters in Hazel Crest District 1521/2, which is on the brink of insolvency, agreed to a tax increase.
Although the increase may not take effect in time to stave off the district’s dissolution, officials were heartened by the 54 percent of the voters who supported the measure.
“This is wonderful. It doesn’t get any better than this,” said Supt. Harry Reynolds.
In the collar counties, school referendum proposal results were mixed.
Some Lake County voters who had rejected tax increases gave their approval Tuesday, including those who supported a 45-cent tax rate increase for Grayslake High School District 127.
Six of 10 school tax measures failed in Lake, including increases for Gurnee School District 56 and Lake Forest Community High School District 115.
Across Chicago and the suburbs, nearly 200 referendum proposals were on county ballots, from tax increases for school programs and construction projects to non-binding questions about gambling and airport expansion.
At least 75 of the measures across the region were related to schools at a time when state education officials say at least 8 of 10 school districts spend more money than they take in.
Opponents argued such measures were ill-timed because of the stagnant economy.
Just north of Chicago, longtime Niles Mayor Nicholas Blase sent a letter to district residents urging them to vote against a tax-rate increase of 79 cents for Niles Township High School District 219. Tuesday evening, the measure went down in flames, with 71 percent of voters saying no.
“The results are quite clear. The community has spoken,” said Niles Supt. Neil Codell. Now school officials will have to regroup and figure out how to avoid eating away at the district’s savings, projected to run out in 2005 at current spending rates.
With about 75 percent of precincts reporting, a 38-cent tax increase for Unit District 46 in Elgin, appeared headed for defeat. The measure would have brought about $12 million a year to the financially troubled district.
In contrast, a handful of south Cook school districts were successful Tuesday. Voters approved a 90-cent tax rate increase in Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233, and a 50-cent increase in Community High School District 218 in Oak Lawn. Both districts faced financial deficits.
In Hazel Crest, the proposed $1.89 tax rate increase will generate about $1.5 million in new revenue, though those funds will not be immediately available. The district still needs help from the Illinois legislature to avoid financial collapse and to keep schools open this school year. School officials said they hoped the tax increase would at least show lawmakers the voters’ resolve to rescue the district.
But referendum items in North Palos Elementary District 117, Orland Park Elementary District 135, and Matteson-Richton Park Elementary District 159 were rejected.
In DuPage County, a measure to increase school taxes for deficit-plagued Queen Bee District 16 in Glendale Heights appeared headed for defeat. And a proposal to increase taxes for Kane County’s St. Charles School District 303 also appeared to lack support.
Voters also faced a gamut of non-school-related referendum items.
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In Addison Township, voters responded as expected on two advisory referendum proposals about expansion at O’Hare International Airport: Seventy-two percent opposed adding 700,000 more flights at O’Hare, and 89 percent said Chicago should reimburse homeowners for any property tax losses caused by O’Hare expansion.
In five northern Lake County townships–Antioch, Lake Villa, Newport, Shields and Warren–voters overwhelmingly said “no” to a non-binding referendum item about placing a casino in their township or anywhere in Lake County. More than 58 percent of voters in four townships turned down the idea of a casino, according to unofficial results, with results for Newport held up because of a glitch.
Voters narrowly approved a tax increase to generate about $3 million a year for Lake County Forest Preserve District to refurbish land and build new trails and parking lots.
In McHenry County, voters gave officials permission to levy a property tax to help build a more cost-efficient and slightly larger county nursing home.
With 84 percent of precincts reporting, 54 percent of voters were in favor of the proposal while 46 percent were against it, according to unofficial returns.