St. Charles parks will ask voters for millions
The St. Charles Park District will ask voters to help foot the bill for more than $20 million in projects, including long-awaited renovations and the construction of a new swimming pool.
The request will take the form of a referendum question on the Feb. 5 ballot, officials said Wednesday, although trustees have not yet decided exactly how much to solicit from taxpayers.
The district's list of desired projects includes a $10.9 million aquatic center at Campton Hills Park along Campton Hills Road and $6.06 million in renovations to the 70-year-old Pottawatomie Pool near downtown St. Charles.
In addition, officials are considering a 12,000-square-foot nature center costing between $3.7 million and $5.2 million, according to preliminary estimates.
"The details of what the referendum will contain are still up in the air," parks director Jim Breen said. "I have no reason to believe (trustees) would do everything."
This week, the park board reviewed two scenarios for how the referendum question might take shape but did not vote on either one.
The scenarios consist of issuing $20 million or $25 million in bonds to be paid off by residents over the next 20 years. These would cost the owner of a $300,000 house between $80 and $100 a year in additional taxes, officials estimate.
The district expects to have nearly $5 million in reserves on hand next year and is considering kicking some or all of that into the pot, Breen said.
This will be the first referendum question the district has put on a ballot since the late 1990s, when it sought to increase its bonding authority. Officials expect to work out many of the details at an Oct. 9 meeting.
By the numbers
Cost estimates for projects the St. Charles Park District might ask February voters to help fund:
$10.9 million aquatic center/swimming pool at Campton Hills Park
$6.06 million in renovations and improvements at Pottawatomie Park and its pool
$3.7 million to $5.2 million for a nature center at Pottawatomie Park
$2.7 million in miscellaneous projects and improvements across the district
$2 million to buy land