Make an informed 'yes' vote in Dist. 203
I strongly support the District 203 bond referendum on the ballot on Feb. 5 because it represents a common-sense solution to our district's long-term facilities needs. I further support the referendum because the proposed renovations must occur at some point, and they're only going to get more expensive if we wait.
But I am afraid that many people may vote "no" on this referendum because of lingering resentment over the last referendum. While I can certainly understand this resentment - all of our property taxes seemed to go up more than what we thought they might - several aspects of the current referendum make this fundamentally different than the last one.
First, the upper administration of the district seems to be acutely aware of the resentment caused by the 2002 referendum in the community and is determined to learn from the past.
Second, the amount of tax increase from this referendum is based upon fixed debt financing and is not affected by the tap cap. In other words, the amount of additional tax revenue the district will receive from this referendum is fixed and known today. The district has taken great pains to ensure that the tax burden on us as District 203 taxpayers has been laid out for all to see.
All of these facts paint a picture of a school district determined to learn from the past and to manage our district's resources wisely into the future. Thus, I believe strongly that the district has chosen a wise, fiscally-responsible path toward dealing with very definite long-term needs.
It is never easy to vote to raise one's own taxes, but there can be no doubt of the need for the improvements proposed by the school board. If you are a voter on the fence over this because of your frustration over last time, I would encourage you to fully inform yourself. Take a look at the district's own information on their Web site. Go to www.buildthefuture203.org and check out their explanation of the cost. Ask questions. But please, make sure your vote is an informed one. I think once you do, you will agree a "yes" vote is the most prudent for the future of education in our community. Please vote "yes" on Feb. 5
Mary Wong
Naperville