South suburban voters Tuesday appeared to be opening their checkbooks to support open space and some school districts, while other struggling school districts dealt with the prospect of more program cuts.
More than 63 percent of voters in Orland District 135, the area’s largest elementary school district, in unofficial results heeded dire predictions about drastic cuts and supported a 42-cent increase in the tax rate. School officials said the victory would help alleviate a $5million deficit and pay for new classrooms. To get out the vote, school leaders warned of severe cuts and the loss of band, orchestra, sports, gifted programs and at least 60 teachers’ jobs.
A group of supporters put together a Web site, went door to door and hosted events to rally the community, attending coffees and other forums to explain what could be lost.
“It wasn’t a smoke screen; a lot of things would have had to be cut,” said Don Borling, a member of Citizens for Orland’s Children, which supported the tax increase. “I’m excited that so many jobs have been saved.”
According to school officials, the increase will bring in an additional $50 a year for every $1,000 paid in taxes. For instance, someone whose total tax bill is $7,000 a year would have an increase of $350, according to projections.
In Thornton Township High School District 205, a referendum question to raise funds for the cash-strapped schools appeared to go down in defeat. With 131 of 132 precincts reporting, 56 percent of voters rejected the measure in unofficial results. The district asked voters to approve a 70-cent increase in taxes for each $100 of assessed valuation. The district already had sliced $8.2 million from its budget because it failed twice last year to approve tax increases.
The district has eliminated or combined some clubs and teams among its three high schools, as well as reduced the school day by one hour and therefore the number of classes students can take.
“We would have to tighten our belts and brace for cuts in the 2006 school year,” said John Arrington, a spokesman for the Thornton district. “We will have difficult days ahead.”
He said the district would not rule out layoffs.
“That’s a possibility, but hopefully, it won’t be a reality,” he said.
Supporters of an open space referendum in Will County were cautiously optimistic about prevailing in an effort to pass a referendum measure that they said would help preserve water quality and maintain valuable park and open space.
With 366 of 390 precincts reporting, 53 percent of voters were supporting the open space measure. “I’m elated by the results so far,” said Michael Pasteris, executive director of the Forest Preserve District. “If the results hold, I promise we will be good stewards of the public funds and trust.”
With the $95million that would be generated in new taxes, the Forest Preserve District plans to buy about 4,000 acres, particularly parcels around water sources that would provide a buffer from pollutants and other hazards.
The district said with the open-space measure’s approval, taxes would go up $9 annually for every $100,000 of market value on a property.
Supporters have promoted the referendum question as a way to limit growth. Protecting land as open space would prevent new developments that would burden the school district and produce more traffic.
