Lisle must consolidate school districts

When we moved to Lisle, our property taxes were lower than a comparable house in Naperville and Downers Grove. Today our property taxes are higher than Naperville and Downers Grove.

Why is that? We can look where over 60 percent of our taxes go - the Lisle School District. Among 93 suburban school districts, Lisle has the fifth highest reserve level according to a Daily Herald article. The ratio of reserves to expenses is over 148 percent. The state recommended minimum reserve level is 25 percent.

Why are Lisle's reserves so high? Because they have been overtaxing us for years in order to build a new school - without having a referendum to seek approval from the voters. But the Lisle School Board is not the only tax entity that is building up a reserve to avoid having a referendum. The Lisle Library Board has a reserve exceeding $2.7 million to allegedly build a new library - again without voter approval. Most neighboring towns have referendums to approve funding for new facilities, but Lisle doesn't. There is no oversight over these boards.

So what is the solution? It is no secret that Illinois has more taxing bodies than any other state in the U.S. Perhaps we should demand that these taxing bodies be consolidated to save costs. Have you ever wondered why the town of Lisle with a population of 22,000 has four school districts, Lisle, Naperville, Wheaton, Woodridge? Why shouldn't the school districts be consolidated as well as the library board? Perhaps the library should be placed under the control of the Lisle Village Board.

Unless you like higher taxes, something needs to be done - the status quo is not the answer!

Richard Weigel

Lisle