Batavia Park District residents to vote on rec center

Batavia Park District voters will decide Tuesday whether it can borrow $20 million to build a recreation center in downtown Batavia.

Depending on interest rates at the time of borrowing, the loan could cost taxpayers an additional $11 million in interest, the district estimates.

The issue was forced to referendum by residents, after the park board voted in April to sell alternate-revenue bonds for the project.

The proposed center would be built at Island Avenue, Houston Street and Wilson Street, as part of a joint venture with the city and a private developer. Besides the recreation center, there would be stores and a parking garage.

Park district officials say the project can be done without increasing property taxes, by extending the payment schedule for loans the taxpayers currently are paying off. Opponents say the district should pay off its existing debt and reduce taxpayers' bills. Many don't believe their tax bills won't increase somehow, and cite how the park district's levy increased over the last 20 years, even though the rate remained nearly the same.

The issue spurred the formation of two groups Building a Better Batavia and Batavians Against Debt.

BBB initially filed as a political committee with the state, but then changed its status to nonprofit organization status; it believes its new status doesn't require it to file election spending reports. The developer of the project said in early October it gave $20,000 to BBB. The group refused to provide updated numbers last week or specify its donors.

BAD has filed reports indicating it received $32,000 from Peoria-based Black Heron LLC. The campaign chairman-treasurer, a Peoria lawyer, has refused to return calls and e-mail messages seeking information about Black Heron.

The Batavia Park District includes residents of Batavia, Geneva, North Aurora, Aurora and unincorporated areas.