The Elgin area Unit District 46 school board gave voters a choice this week: You can pay now, or pay later.
The lesson in finances comes courtesy of a gaping budget deficit that is forcing the school board to make $12.5 million in cuts. The trims could lead to laying off 218 teachers and support workers, increased class sizes and reductions in art, music, physical education classes and library services.
If the state’s second-largest school district continues to operate at present funding levels, the cuts approved by the school board Monday would take effect next fall.
District 46 officials say the only way to forestall the trims is for residents to approve a property tax increase being proposed in an upcoming referendum.
Administrators contend that passage of the $172.8 million proposal on March 15 would pay for construction of new schools, renovation of old buildings and the hiring of more teachers. It also would retire the budget deficit, which is approaching $26 million.
Thus, District 46 is giving voters a choice of either paying higher taxes now or sending their children to poorer schools later.
“It is not a scare tactic,” Supt.Marvin Edwards said. “It is for real.”
For some parents of the 30,000 students who attend the 42 elementary and high schools in District 46, the school board has created a no-win situation.
“These threats are being jammed down our throats. If a man points a gun to your head and asks for your wallet, what are you going to do?” said Streamwood resident Mark Pisano, who has a son attending Woodland Heights School.
One part of the two-part referendum asks for an increase in the tax rate by 78 cents to $4 per $100 of assessed valuation. That would add about $225 a year in property taxes for people with houses valued at $100,000.
The other question seeks permission to issue bonds to pay for a new high school, five new elementary schools, renovations at the other buildings and a districtwide computer system.
If the proposals fail, the budget cuts would take effect with the 1994-95 school year. They would include eliminating 145 teaching jobs and 73 support staff positions, such as librarians, social workers and nurses. Other proposals include reductions in bilingual and gifted student programs, coaching jobs, after-school programs and placing part-time principals at four schools.
“If these cuts are made, you’ll be looking at a district that will be set back 10 years,” said David Hintz, a counselor at Canton Middle School and a district employee since 1970. “There is no possible way the staff of this district can fill in the gaps (left by the cuts).”
The school board and groups such as the 200-member Concerned Citizens for Education, which favors the tax increase, have embarked on a joint campaign to gain voter support.
“We’ve reached a defining moment in U-46,” said Bill Hoffer, co-chairman of Concerned Citizens for Education. “We have a new superintendent who has brought a lot of energy and new ideas. We’ve got to give him the money to do things important to U-46.”
Administrators and parents plan to address more than 60 groups in the 90-square-mile school district, which includes Bartlett, Elgin, Hanover Park, South Elgin, Streamwood and Wayne, and portions of Carol Stream, St. Charles, Schaumburg and West Chicago.
While the referendum proposals do not appear to have any organized opposition, a few detractors have shown up at recent school board meetings.
They suggest the board look at other ways to trim the budget to generate money rather than raising taxes, which will be felt by property owners for years.
“Something else has got to be done to reduce taxes,” said Streamwood resident J. William McReynolds Sr., a member of the Illinois Tax Payers Union. “I cannot afford a $200 to $300 tax increase.”
