Education Matters US

Referendums on ballot

Mundelein safety repairs: Mundelein Elementary School District 75 will present two bond propositions to voters on Feb. 5. One proposal calls for $6.6 million in bonds to make health and safety improvements to school buildings, including maintenance on the roof, plumbing and electrical work. A separate proposal asks for $3.3 million in bonds to add air conditioning to the school buildings. Opened in 1996, Lincoln is the only district school currently fully air conditioned.

Big Hollow working cash bond: Big Hollow School District 38 will present a working cash bond proposition of $10 million to voters on Feb. 5. Financial projections show that by 2013 the district will be $5.2 million in debt with slow to moderate growth in enrollment, continuation of a hiring freeze and further program cuts.

Volo home rule: Voters will decide whether or not the Village of Volo should be granted home rule status. If granted home rule, Volo could raise the sales tax one percent to help pay for $770,000 traffic lights at the corner of W. Molidor Road and Route 12, said Village President Burnell Russell. “That’s not an absolute. But we’ll probably raise the sales tax 1 percent,” he said. Other intersections he’d like to improve in Volo include North Fish Lake Road and routes 120 and 60.

Antioch Fire Protection: A proposal by the First Fire Protection District of Antioch Township would increase the limiting rate to .40 percent of the equalized assessed value for levy years 2008-2011. If successful, the referendum would more than double the district’s revenues from $659,817 to $1,425,632. If approved, the owner of a $200,000 home will pay an extra $80 the first year.A similar referendum was defeated last April.

Wauconda outdoor water park: The Wauconda Park District will present a bond proposition of $12 million to voters to build an outdoor water park at Cook Park and expand the park district’s Community Center. If approved the water park would include a zero-depth entry pool, lap lanes, diving well, three types of water slides and a lazy river, said Nancy Burton, director of parks and recreation. Expansion of the Community Center would include an additional multipurpose rooms and expansion of the fitness center. If approved, the owner of a $265,000 home would pay an extra $142 the first year, Burton said.

Newport Township town hall: Newport Township will present a proposition to voters to transfer surplus funds to Township Capital Projects Fund to build a town hall. The proposal would transfer $150,000 from the Road and Bridge Fund, $250,000 from the Gravel Fund and $50,000 from the General Town Fund into the capital projects fund.

Fox River Grove advisory question: The Village of Fox River Grove will hold a public vote on how funding will be appropriated for the purpose of planning and building the proposed Streets and Park Maintenance Facility.

Hainesville advisory question: The village of Hainesville will ask voters if the village should permanently obligate its taxpayers to participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund for the benefit of its employees.

Barrington recreational facility: The Barrington Park District will present a bond proposition of $12 million to voters to build a new recreational facility and renovate the existing facility at Langendorf Park.

Fox Lake library: The Fox Lake Library District will present a bond proposition of $14,975,000 to voters to build a new library and furnish it with materials and computers.

Deer Park sales tax increase: Voters will decide whether the village of Deer Park should raise the sales tax by .5 percent to be used on public infrastructure such as street and drainage improvements