Yes to Medinah Elementary District 11

On Nov. 2, voters in Medinah Elementary District 11 will be asked to do something they haven't done in years: Give the district permission to raise property taxes. The district wants to borrow $8 million to pay for a plan to upgrade two schools and eliminate a third.

Officials say they learned a lesson from past referendum mistakes and spent several years seeking feedback from residents. The result is a proposal that consolidates operations and improves student safety without constructing a brand-new building.

If approved, school district property taxes would increase by roughly $156 a year for the owner of a $350,000 home. Now is not a good time for any tax increase, but District 11 has shown this project should not wait. We recommend a “Yes” vote.