Journal & Topics Media Group

School Tax Hike Referendum Wins Big

Backed By Overwhelming Voter Support, Mount Prospect Dist. 57 Avoids Cuts For Now

John Krupa of the pro-referendum Citizens Committee for Education points to positive election results for the Dist. 57 tax referendum displayed on a monitor at Mrs. P & Me Restaurant in Mount Prospect, Tuesday, March 20, 2018. (Richard Mayer/Journal photo)

It wasn’t even close.

A sigh of relief on election night for many Mount Prospect Elementary School Dist. 57 teachers, board members, administrators and parents.

Cuts to staffing and programs next school year were avoided in Dist. 57 after voters Tuesday overwhelmingly supported the property tax increase to fund those expenses, which district officials have called, for months, a necessity in order to keep the district viable and operational.

With all 21 precincts reporting and 7,412 votes cast, 70.29%, or 5,131 unofficial votes, supported the increase compared to 29.71%, or 2,169, against the hike.

Speaking at a results-viewing party at Mrs P. & Me restaurant in downtown Mount Prospect, Citizens Committee for Education Chairman John Krupa, who led the grassroots effort supporting the referendum, was thankful for the voter turnout and a positive result.

“It is very overwhelming, but not just because of the voters, but the folks that supported the campaign,” Krupa said. “We had hundreds of people that donated time and money and it was not just parents, but teachers, business, civic leaders and seniors. It was every stakeholder that understood a ‘yes’ vote protects our children and property values. They backed it up at the polls and I’m so appreciative and humbled by the turnout.”

Krupa said he thought the results would have been a lot closer. From his view, Dist. 57 Board President Jon Sonnefeldt’s run in the 27th District State Senate primary may have generated more interest in the referendum, leading to a more favorable result in the end.

“This was a landslide and the community stepped up and stated they wanted to support their schools and level of education that Dist. 57 provides,” Krupa said. “Those that voted in favor of it should be proud because they protected future generations and property values.”

Voters approved a limiting tax rate increase of 85 cents. Homeowners will have to absorb annual tax increases ranging anywhere from $200 to $700, if not more, over the next decade, depending on a home’s value. The rate hike is expected to generate approximately $60 million in new revenue for the district over the next 10 years.

The referendum came to be after district reserves started to fall in recent years, while expenses continued to increase. Within a few years, the district was projecting having to operate with no reserves whatsoever.

If the referendum had not passed, district officials would have been faced with making drastic cuts starting next year, and possibly into the next year, to staffing and various programs. Larger class sizes, the elimination of several teaching positions, fee hikes and program cuts for math and art were anticipated. Additionally, proper maintenance of district buildings would have been impacted.

Tuesday’s referendum result marks the first time Dist. 57 voters have supported a tax increase for education in three decades.

Sonnefeldt said he was pleased by the results and commended the grassroots committee for its efforts in getting the message out to the public.

“I think the community expressed that they support their school district and the direction the board and administration have been taking, and they want to see it continue,” Sonnefeldt said. “This is a vote for status quo in Dist. 57 and the status quo in Dist. 57 is good. This is a win-win for every resident in Dist. 57.”

Sonnefeldt also said he was surprised the large margin of victory: “I did not expect the margins to be so great, but it is gratifying.” He emphasized the district will continue to run as is going forward in terms of staffing and programs. The only difference now, he said, is the district will be able to make significant improvements to its facilities with the additional funding.

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