Tenbusch on Thursday accused some tax-increase opponents of making false claims about how an increase would affect property owners, prompting concern by state board chairman Jesse Ruiz. The chairman asked state board attorneys to look into how the state could regulate organizations making false claims.

Such charges are not unique in the clash over school tax increases.

“We’re disappointed, naturally,” said Superintendent James Tenbusch. “Our main focus right now is to commit ourselves to attempting to maintain local control of our schools for as long as we can.”

Winthrop Harbor Supt. James Tenbusch said he and a majority of board members support the state’s intervention

The Illinois State Board of Education certified that the district is in “financial difficulty,” a status that allows state monitoring and could lead to even stronger oversight down the road.

Elsewhere in the state, opponents have claimed that ballot language is deceptive and fails to inform voters of the true cost of tax increases.

On Thursday March 9, NTU Vice-President Jeffrey Babbitt spoke with the General Counsel for the Illinois State Board of Elections, Steve Sandvoss, regarding District 201’s illegal activities. Sandvoss advised that District 201’s actions violated criminal law and should be reported to Mary Bucaro at the Public Corruption and Financial Crimes division of Cook County
State’s Attorney Dick Devine’s office.

NTU outlined several violations committed by District 201 in its complaint filed with the State’s Attorney on March 9, including the distribution of “a fax promoting a fundraising event for the Morton Quality in EducationCommittee … and urging support for the referendum … through a District 201 fax machine paid for with public funds and using telecommunications services paid for with public funds,” listing a District 201 phone number as a contact number for the pro-referendum political action committee, and displaying a large pro-referendum banner on school property. All of
these charges have been substantiated by reporter Johnna Kelly and city editor Robert Carr at The Life newspapers.

The complaint also stated that public employees on District 201’s staff may have further violated the Elections Interference law by performing political pro-referendum work while on the clock. NTU’s complaint ended by urging the State’s Attorney’s office “to take immediate action on this violation of election law.”

Guest Posted: Feb. 25 2006,10:24
Lennie,

Of course D1 paid for the election because it is the governmental entity that must pay for the costs. But, unlike the Beach Park Fire Protection District’s emergency referendum (which cost $8,600), the taxpayers of D1 did not foot ANY PART of the bill.

Instead, from the beginning of the D1 emergency referendum campaign, the administration and school board made it clear to the public that the district would raise all of the money it needed to pay for the election. This was all detailed in both newpapers at the time.

You may recall that D1 held a “Mega Event” with carnival games and food for the whole community which netted $4,700. D1 also received a donation from the local Rotary Club for $500 for the election, thus making the total available to pay for the special election through donations and fundraising efforts alone: $5,200 — slightly more than was needed to pay ALL election charges at no cost to local taxpayers.

Please remove the misleading and incorrect data from your website.

The referendum comittee, who are funding the election, are called the “Citizens for Quality Schools”. It’s members (parents) have written letters to the local papers, attendend recent school board meetings, and village board meetings. Their website is whsd1voteyes.org.
Comment by dmccarthy — 9/27/2005 @ 10:12 pm

In response to recent findings from this website, The Winthrop Harbor PTA/PTO would like to respond.

The Winthrop Harbor School District hosted a series of fundraisers referred to as “Friday Night Fun Fests”, in which all three schools participated. At the time that these fundraisers were held, it was indicated to the Winthrop Harbor PTA/PTO that there was not a separate bank account to hold the money collected. Therefore, it was strongly encouraged that the profits from these “fun fests” be deposited in the Winthrop Harbor PTA/PTO checking account.

That said, the money collected at these events was then presented to the Winthrop Harbor PTA/PTO by the school district and the PTA/PTO subsequently wrote a check for the exact amount for deposit to: The Citizen’s for Quality Schools.

No funds that have been raised through or by the current PTA/PTO board and chairpersons were rendered towards the support of the referendum, nor were these events sponsored by the Winthrop Harbor PTA/PTO, financially or otherwise. Furthermore, to avoid any future confusion, the Winthrop Harbor PTA/PTO is proposing an addendum to our by-laws stating that the PTA/PTO will no longer assist other club (s), groups, etc. with their respective financial matters, i.e., holding funds.

If anyone has any further questions regarding this transaction, please feel free to attend our meetings. Our meeting dates are posted on the Winthrop Harbor School District website.

Thank you,

The Winthrop Harbor PTA/PTO Board & Chairpersons

Comment by Lorie — 2/22/2006 @ 2:33 pm | Edit This

I would like to thank you for your response. I do strive to make sure the information I present is factual. I do not however, have control over what commenters say. In that regard, I have a few questions I would like clarification on.

What group ran the Friday Fun Fests? It sounds like the District did from your response so I wanted to get accurate information.

I have also heard a couple of other things I would like to have clarified. Did Dr. Tenbusch pressure the PTA in any way to help with this? I see you stated “strongly encouraged” in your response.

Secondly, did the PTA disband and a new PTO group get formed after this incident?

Comment by site admin — 2/22/2006 @ 11:27 pm | Edit This

The PTA’s decision to convert to a PTO was for a number of reasons, none of which included the referendum, superintendent, or the school board.

The Winthrop Harbor School District hosted the Friday Fun Fests, which were held at the schools. These events were not run by the PTA/PTO. For additional information, we suggest you contact the school (s).

Pressure is a strong word, members of the board were encouraged prior to a meeting to assist in this matter. It is customary for the PTA/PTO to vote on important issues, such as this. Therefore, it was presented for vote, as customary, and the vote passed.

We hope this clarifies any still outstanding questions.

Winthrop Harbor PTA/PTO Board & Chairpersons

Comment by Lorie — 2/24/2006 @ 10:34 am

The cost of the election is being paid for by a group of concerned citizens who raising the money.
Comment by DMcCarthy — 9/6/2005 @ 11:01 pm

The referendum comittee, who are funding the election, are called the “Citizens for Quality Schools”. It’s members (parents) have written letters to the local papers, attendend recent school board meetings, and village board meetings. Their website is whsd1voteyes.org.
Comment by dmccarthy — 9/27/2005 @ 10:12 pm

At the forum on Tuesday, in response to a suggestion that Yes supporters donate money to the district if the referendum fails, district officials said the district could not accept donations from individuals (actually school districts can accept donations through education foundations, as many districts have long had in place). Later in the afternoon, they said the cost of the election would be covered by donations from individuals. I guess the individuals will send their checks directly to the elections officials, and they won’t go through the school district.
Comment by Chris — 10/7/2005 @ 2:21 pm

Winthrop Harbor School District #1 has paid the charges.

Special Board Meeting
There will be a special board meeting this Monday night (February 6) at 7pm at North Prairie Junior High. Representatives from the Illinois State Board of Education will be at the meeting to talk about the district’s financial condition and the options available to the district. Additionally administrators from other district’s who have come under state financial supervision will also be at the meeting to share the experiences of their district as they were placed under state financial control.

This support seemed to be forthcoming after the spring election, but the arrival of a well funded and organized opposition group from outside our community has changed everything. It no longer appears realistic to expect a “win” in another referendum attempt.

The decision to engage in deficit spending is predicated on the belief that the costs of operating District 1 as a full-service school district, even with the utmost fiscal constraints, means that our annual expenses will unavoidably outstrip revenue. This unfortunate reality puts us squarely on the path towards a state takeover of District 1 schools. The first step in the process has already been taken by seeking the Illinois State Board of Education certification of being in a state of “financial distress.” All of the options that followafter a state intervention occurs will result in a local tax increase without voter consent. This will insure that a sufficient amount of new tax dollars are generated to support full service educational programs to Winthrop Harbor Children, but it will also mean the state will assume control over our schools.

“The closing section is the damning point of this letter. This administrator, in
referencing ’state takeover,’ has abdicated his responsibility, and taken a deliberate
path to direct the district to financial irresponsibility. He is in effect saying, I’m
going to lose my job, so I might as well take the whole community with me. He should be
fired immediately, and the board should be taken to task for allowing this ‘leader’ to
create a schism in the community.”

The letter attached is very important. It shows you at what length school boards go to
get what they want without being accountable to the taxpayers. Once voters have
defeated a referendum school boards have the responsibility to balance the budget and
control spending on the revenues available to them. This school board does have a number
of options to them but have chosen to deficit spend instead.

It is time for the no voters in the district to become more vocal at the school board
meetings and not let the school district intimidate them anymore.

Fiscally responsible individuals across the State should consider running for the school
board in their school district. The spending in this State and the TRS travesty will
continue if individuals do not start stepping up and gain control of out control school
boards, legislators, administrators and teacher unions.

SUMMARY REPORT
Lake County Clerk
Unofficial Results
October 11, 2005
Run Date:10/11/05 07:42 PM

VOTES PERCENT

PRECINCTS COUNTED (OF 7) . . . . . 7 100.00
REGISTERED VOTERS – TOTAL . . . . . 4,504
BALLOTS CAST – TOTAL. . . . . . . 2,367
BALLOTS CAST – BLANK. . . . . . . 0
VOTER TURNOUT – TOTAL . . . . . . 52.55
VOTER TURNOUT – BLANK . . . . . .

Winthrop Harbor School District 1
(VOTE FOR ) 1
(WITH 7 OF 7 PRECINCTS COUNTED)
YES . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,014 42.84
NO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,353 57.16
Total . . . . . . . . . 2,367

Suit threat irks tax foes
Winthrop Harbor referendum: ‘Statements about taxpayers inflammatory’

By Ralph Zahorik
STAFF WRITER

Attorneys for conservative groups responded with outrage and indignation Friday over threats of lawsuits from the Winthrop Harbor School Board.

The board, in a press release and in attorneys’ letters to several organizations and individuals, warned that legal action would be taken if they did not stop making certain claims, in fliers and in automated telephone calls, about Tuesday’s school tax referendum.

Claims of property taxes rising more than double the amount stated by school officials are “false” and “defamatory,” the school statement said.

Citizens for Reasonable and Fair Taxes (CRAFT), a group based in Harvard, “is well within its First Amendment rights to inform taxpayers” about its conclusion that property taxes in Winthrop Harbor will rise 82. 4 cents per $100 valuation, not 39 cents as stated by school and Lake County tax extension officials, said Bruno Behrend, of River Forest, an attorney representing the group, in a statement.

“CRAFT specifically states that they are not accusing (nor did they intend to accuse) the district and/or its representatives of intentional misrepresentation,” he said. “They are merely pointing out that the operation of Illinois tax laws, combined with the possible future actions of district management, may result in more taxes being collected than voters may have been led to believe by the referendum language.”

“These folks, school officials, are throwing a lot of mud at these concerned taxpayers,” said Doug Ibendahl, an attorney for Family Tax Network in Carpentersville, a group that has been placing anti-Winthrop Harbor school vote statements on its Web site, Champion.org.

“Taxpayers can say a lot of things about their government but having the government hire lawyers to make defamatory statements about taxpayers is inflammatory,” Ibendahl said.

Wayne Wasylko, director of the Lake County Clerk’s Tax Extension and Redemption Department, also was blasted. “He’s using figures in a despicable way,” Ibendahl said. “He should go back to school or shut up about it.”

Wasylko, in a Sept. 29 letter addressed to Winthrop Harbor residents, wrote that the tax increase, if a approved, will amount to 39 cents per $100 assessed valuation, not the 82.4 cents claimed by the anti-tax groups.

“When these people say it’s false (statements about the alleged 82.4-cent increase) they’re going against the statements of the State Board of Education,” said Jack Roeser of Barrington, president of the network.

Raymond True of Libertyville, head of the Republican Assembly of Lake County, a conservative group, said the threats of lawsuits against himself and his organization using school funds, “violate ethics” laws.

“You can’t spend taxpayer money to take a partisan position on an issue, to chill the other side of the referendum,” he said.

Behrend said CRAFT stands by its charge that the Winthrop Harbor school tax rate could rise to 82.4 cents if voters approve the measure.

“The ambiguity of the Illinois property tax collection system has allowed taxing districts (school districts in particular) to utilize various loopholes to collect much higher taxes than taxpayers believed they were approving,” he said. “While voters are more aware of these loopholes, legislation closing them has not been passed, and it remains possible for districts to take advantage of them.”

Winthrop Harbor School Superintendent James Tenbusch said the vocal opponents of the district’s referendum “are against all taxes. They are anti-public school zealots. Thy drop their dirty bomb and walk away. They have no vested interest in our schools like the people in our community do.”

He said school district residents “are responding to our message. We’re staying ahead of the debate and have taken away all (the anti-tax groups’) arguments.”

Illinois School Code Section 17-1.2
“Post annual budget on web site. If a school district has an Internet web site, the school district shall post its current annual budget, itemized by receipts and expenditures, on the district’s Internet web site. The school district shall notify the parents or guardians of its students that the budget has been posted on the district’s web site and what the web site’s address is.”

Illinois School Code Section 34-43a
“Post annual budget on web site. The school district shall post its current annual school budget, itemized by receipts and expenditures, on the districts Internet web site. The school district shall notify the parents or guardians of its students that the budget has been posted on the district’s web site and what the web site’s address is.”

By Ralph Zahorik

STAFF WRITER
WINTHROP HARBOR — School officials are threatening legal action against the Republican Assembly of Lake County, anti-tax groups, an automated telephone call operation and a number of out-of-town residents campaigning against a proposed school district tax hike.

In a letter mailed this week, Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, an attorney for the Winthrop Harbor Grade School District asks the organizations and individuals to “immediately cease making and publishing false statements” and “stop their defamatory actions and retract their false statements.”

Winthrop Harbor voters go to the polls Tuesday in an emergency referendum on a proposed tax increase. They are being told lies by the anti-tax campaigners, school officials say.

At issue is whether the proposed hike could increase the district property tax rate by 39 cents or 82.4 cents per $100 assessed valuation.

School officials and the Lake County clerk’s office say the correct figure is 39 cents.

The proposal asks voters to approve raising the maximum educational fund tax rate from $2.17 to $2.56 per $100 assessed valuation, a 39-cent increase.

James Peschke, an electrical engineer and founder of the Harvard, Ill.-based anti-tax Citizens for Reasonable and Fair Taxes organization, has noted that, currently, the school district taxes at the rate of just $1.736 per $100, not at the maximum of $2.17.

Therefore, he argues, in speeches and in literature, that the actual increase — from $1.736 to $2.56 — is 82.4 cents.

School officials have said the state tax cap stops them from taxing higher than $1.736 and that, if voters approve the new tax, the tax cap prevents a raise beyond 39 cents.

Lake County tax extension officials agree. In a Sept. 29 letter to “residents of the Winthrop Harbor School District, Wayne Wasylko, director of the County Clerk’s Tax Extension and Redemption Department, wrote: “Should this referendum pass, the voted increase of .39 percent will be added to the effective rate of 1.736 percent producing a new effective rate of 2.126 percent.

“The only scenario for the district to reach the new voted rate of 2.56 percent … would be to levy much more in the education fund and a commensurate reduction in levies for other funds, such as Transportation or Operations and Building. If this is not done, then the .434 percent shortfall will remain.”

At a forum Tuesday, CRAFT’s statements were called “categorically wrong … and false,” by James Leech, school board president. “You guys are using scare tactics,” he said. “If we could levy $2.17 we wouldn’t be here today.”

The board issued a statement Thursday demanding that Peschke, Ellis and others “cease making and publishing false statements regarding the … referendum.”

“If the defamatory actions do not stop, the school district will exercise every legal remedy against the individuals and organizations, as well as taking actions with the Illinois attorney general, the Lake County State’s Attorney and the Illinois State Board of Elections,” the statement said.

“It’s unfortunate that the school district has to resort to possible legal action to stop these individuals from lying to the voters,” said schools Superintendent James Tembusch. “The individuals and organizations’ … focus should be on the improvement of education, not on the dissemination of false information.”

Named by the School Board as possible targets of lawsuits are Peschke and his wife, Cathy Peschke, both of Harvard; Citizens for Reasonable and Fair Taxes, a group founded by the Peschkes; the Republican Federation of Lake County, a conservative organization, and its president, Raymond True of Libertyville; Jason Ellis of Zion, who has a Web site called Votenotax.org and is sending out anti-tax automated phone calls to Winthrop Harbor voters; Chris Jenner of CRAFT and others.

Peschke and Ellis couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday night.

“I’m doing this as an individual,” True said. “The word Republican and the Republican Federation of Lake County is nowhere in any of our handouts. There is nothing in any of our materials with any Republican symbol. I purposely stayed away from that.”

True said he’s sending out another anti-tax flier this week to 3,000 households in Winthrop Harbor.

10/07/05

The Winthrop Harbor School District 1 (the District) is threatening various groups and individuals with legal action over communications to potential voters in the upcoming “emergency” referendum on Oct. 11th. They are claiming that some who are opposing the referendum are making intentionally false statements.

Specifically, CRAFT, one of opponents of the tax increase, claims that the District could possibly raise the tax by 82.4 cents – not the 39 cents asked for in the language of the Referendum. The District claims that this is intentionally false, and is threatening to use “every legal remedy” to stop opponents from making this claim.

CRAFTs understanding of the laws pertaining to property tax collection in Illinois, as well as their understanding of the First Amendment of the Constitution protecting Free Speech causes them to offer the following clarifications.

1. The ambiguity of the Illinois Property Tax Collection System has allowed taxing districts (school districts in particular) to utilize various loopholes to collect much higher taxes than Taxpayers believed they were approving. This has been demonstrated in numerous Newspaper articles. Numerous members of the Illinois General Assembly are aware of this as well.

2. While voters are more aware of these loopholes, legislation closing them has not been passed, and it remains possible for districts to take advantage of them.

3. District 1 has asserted that they do not intend to increase taxes greater than the 39 cents that they are asking for. CRAFT asserts that once approved, the Residents of District 1 are at the mercy of the District’s decisions, and that the taxpayers of district may still see their taxes rise above the 39 cents “asked for” in the Referendum Language.

4. CRAFT is well with in its First Amendment to inform the taxpayers of this fact.

5. CRAFT specifically states that they are not accusing (nor did they intend to accuse) the District and/or its representatives of intentional misrepresentation. They are merely pointing out that the operation of Illinois tax laws, combined with the possible future actions of District Management, may result in more taxes being collected than voters may have been led to believe by the Referendum Language.

- D-1 is against consolidation (although he didn’t say why)

- This thefterendum will solve things for 8 – 9 years (that’s it?!?! then we go through this again, ad nauseum?)

- The teachers contract was ratified today, Tuesday, Oct 4, at about 3:30pm and raises base salaries by 3.75% (get a copy of the salary tables, starting with 04-05, to confirm what the actual increase is)

- “If it’s any more than $0.39, you can come up and shoot us.

Correction: The raise in the base salary is 0.75%. “Step”, which happens when you move up in the pay scale after each year of teaching in the district, is 3%. That, I believe, is right around the same as it was last year. (by dana)

Monday, September 26, 2005

By Josh Stockinger
Source: Northwest Herald

HUNTLEY – School District 158 could face a $14 million blow in state-aid cuts by keeping a pledge to taxpayers, officials said.

The district this fall will seek a precise levy to keep the tax rate from rising above what voters believed that they approved in a November referendum, school board Vice President Glen Stewart said.

The result will be staggering drops in state aid, he said, because it will appear that the district does not need the additional funding when it forgoes the available tax rate.

“If nothing changes and we held to the pledge, it could be a delta of $14 million over the next four or five years,” Stewart said. “That’s what we have to do to honor our commitment.”

Voters narrowly approved a tax increase in November under the assumption that the rate for the education fund would rise 55 cents. School officials later said the tax rate could jump nearly $1.22 over time, but they pledged not to maximize it.

Board President Mike Skala said the district was working with lawmakers in hopes of drafting a bill that would allow districts to limit referendum effects retroactively.

“But we don’t have a solution as of yet,” he said.

Stewart said state Rep. Mike Tryon, R-Crystal Lake, was drafting legislation that would allow referendums to be limited after two years, and school officials wanted an addendum that would work backward to curtail those already approved.

However, getting legislation drafted is one of several hurdles. The district still would need support from the Illinois House and Senate, if a law even made it to a vote.

“We want to do this as soon as possible,” Stewart said. “But it’s not all in our hands.”

Skala said the board was seeking support from state Sen. Pamela Althoff, R-Crystal Lake, as well as state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, who introduced a “truth in taxation” bill prompted by District 158’s situation.

Skala said a multimillion-dollar loss might not force the district to slash school programs or projects. But it could hinder efforts to reinstate dozens of other programs cut in recent years and also keep the district from reducing class sizes.

“It’s important to the community that we try to solve this in a positive sense because it means so much to the district, as far as what we can provide educationally,” Skala said. “We need the community to get behind the legislators and try to push for this.”

Christopher Clements, a former Lake County sheriff’s deputy and decorated Vietnam War veteran, says he’ll go to jail before taking down down an anti-school tax referendum sign in his yard.

“If they want to arrest me, they can come and do it,” he said. “I’m not taking it down.”

Winthrop Harbor police went to Clements home in the 800 block of Russell Avenue last week. He said he was told his cardboard sign, which says “Vote NO tax referendum,” violates a village ordinance and that a complaint had been received.

Under Winthrop Harbor law, political signs require a permit and they cannot be erected prior to 30 days before an election or “event,” according to village officials.

“That’s outrageous,” Clements said. “I have a constitutional right to express a political opinion.
I don’t need a permit to burn the American flag, and that’s a political statement.”

Clements’ sign is aimed against an Oct. 11 Winthrop Harbor grade school district tax referendum.

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

By Susan Kuczka
Source: Chicago Tribune

In a highly unusual move, a Lake County circuit judge has given the green light for an emergency tax-increase vote to be held Oct. 11 by an elementary school district in north suburban Winthrop Harbor.

“We’ve done all the cutting anyone could reasonably do,” said District 1 Supt. James Tenbusch, who helped convince a judge this month that the district risks violating basic classroom requirements without more money.

The recent elimination of four physical-education teaching positions means the district can offer little more than a “glorified recess” session, he said.

The Illinois school code mandates that pupils receive a minimum of 25 minutes of physical education each day.

State election and school officials said emergency referendums are extremely rare.

“This doesn’t happen very often in Illinois,” said Dan White, executive director of the State Board of Elections.

Before 1980, when a new consolidated election law took effect, school districts could hold referendums virtually anytime. Under current law, schools must hold referendums at the same time as regular primary and general elections.

Since 1980, only a handful of districts have won court approval for a special election. In Lake County, the last emergency referendum was in 1989, when North Chicago schools sought a funding increase. The Warren Township high school district in Gurnee held a referendum in 1985 after a school fire.

After Winthrop Harbor voters rejected funding increases three times in two years, including in April, school officials said they had no choice.

“We’re already operating with less than half the administrative staff of a comparable district,” Tenbusch said. “We run the risk of being in violation of the Illinois school code.”

Schools that fail to meet the code’s classroom requirements could lose tax dollars.

“It doesn’t happen often, but the ultimate penalty could be loss of state funding if schools are not in compliance,” said a spokesman for the Illinois State Board of Education.

While school officials and parents say they are confident the measure will be approved this time, they are worried about an anonymous telephone campaign to homes of many of the district’s more than 3,000 registered voters.

“It’s blatantly incorrect and misleading,” said Tenbusch, who believes the opponents are from outside the district.

The emergency referendum for Winthrop Harbor is the second one ordered this summer in Lake County. Facing similar funding problems, the Beach Park Fire Protection District recently obtained a court order to hold an emergency vote Sept. 13 in an effort to secure full-time paramedic service.

Attorney Shawn Flaherty, who represented Winthrop Harbor and Beach Park in their special-election requests before different judges, said the cases were nearly identical.

“The taxing bodies had to [prove] that there’s an emergency situation, and the emergency was not of their making,” Flaherty said.

In Winthrop Harbor, officials have unsuccessfully sought more operating revenue to bolster their approximately $5.8 million annual budget.

In April, voters rejected a measure to increase the education fund’s tax rate by 39 cents–roughly 13 percent, generating about $475,000 annually.

The October referendum–seeking the same 39 cent increase to put the district’s education-fund tax rate at $2.99 per $100 of assessed valuation–would cost the owner of a $175,000 home about $227 more in annual property taxes, bringing the average bill to about $1,743 a year, officials said.

Tenbusch said he is confident.

“We came within 29 votes last time, so it wasn’t exactly like we lost by a huge margin,” he said. “We’ve had three attempts, and every time we’re closer. So we’re headed in the right direction.”

School officials are sponsoring a “Mega Event” on Sept. 24 at Westfield School to answer questions about the proposal.

Before this week’s opening of Winthrop Harbor’s three elementary schools, officials eliminated the positions of four physical education teachers, a music teacher and a band teacher in the 800-pupil district. That followed last year’s cuts of 38 extracurricular activities, including sports and choir.

“The reason we’ll be on the ballot in the fall is because we have a chance to undo those cuts,” Tenbusch said. “If this is approved, we would restore everything.”

Parents such as Nichole Richardson, who has three children in the schools, also have been holding meetings to encourage support for the measure. “It’s getting to the point where they’re cutting staff, and that’s just not right,” Richardson said. “I just want my kids to have everything I had when I was in school.”

By Ralph Zahorik
STAFF WRITER

WINTHROP HARBOR — A special emergency tax referendum for financially depressed Winthrop Harbor public schools has been approved in Lake County Circuit Court.

Residents will go to polls Oct. 11 to vote on a proposed 39-cent property tax increase.

It will be the fourth time in two years that school officials have attempted to win approval for a tax increase they say the district desperately needs.

The special election was ordered by Circuit Judge Stephen Walter after the court heard testimony the school district would have to cut “essential instructional services to school children” from School Board President James Leech and Schools Superintendent James Tenbusch.

Shawn Flaherty represented the district at the hearing.

Winthrop Harbor voters rejected three previous school tax hike proposals, but each time by a narrower margin.
The proposed 39-cent increase was turned down in November 2004 by a 1,817-1,355 vote and last April by a 1,156-1,100 vote.

About 73 percent of Winthrop Harbor voters — 1,069-399 — opposed a funding plan for special education in March 2004.

With the approval of the Winthrop Harbor School District’s special election, Lake County now has two rare emergency tax referendums scheduled this fall.

A special referendum for the Beach Park (formerly Bonnie Brook) Fire District will be held Sept. 13. The district is seeking a 30-cent ambulance tax. The measure was turned down by Beach Park voters last April.

The last emergency referendum in Lake County was held for the North Chicago School District in 1989. Warren High School District had an emergency referendum after the high school burned in 1985.

The proposed Winthrop Harbor school tax hike would cost the owner of a house valued at $200,000 about $260 a year.

Winthrop Harbor schools are on the state Financial Watch List.

Currently, the 800-student district collects about $2.8 million a year in property taxes for its education fund. With a 39-cent increase, the amount could be increased to $3.3 million a year, according to a school statement.

The current budget for the district is $5.8 million. The budget would be increased to $6.3 million if the tax is approved, according to school officials.

NEWS SUN STAFF REPORT

In-person absentee voting for the Oct. 11 Winthrop Harbor School District emergency referendum election will begin Thursday in the Lake County Clerk’s office, 18 N. County St., Waukegan.

Voting will be offered during regular office hours between 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, except Fridays before holiday weekends.

In-person absentee voting will also be offered Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon. The last day to vote in-person absentee is Monday, Oct. 10.

Registered voters may also vote absentee by mail. For an application or more information, visit www.co.lake.il.us/cntyclk or call (847) 377-2406.