Tax questions dominate ballot
It shouldn't surprise DuPage County voters to see Tuesday's primary ballot includes some referendum questions.
It's not uncommon in recent years for DuPage to have 20 to 23 ballot questions every election, said Doreen Nelson, assistant executive director of the DuPage Election Commission.
This time, 21 ballot questions will be posed to various segments of the citizenry Tuesday. No one will be voting on all of the questions, but some voters will have more than others to answer.
All voters will be asked at least one question, but some Addison residents may have as many as five questions on their ballot.
The one question all voters are facing is a request to increase the county's sales tax levy by a quarter percentage point. The county board had pushed for this initially to help fund budget shortfalls, but when the state legislature approved a sales tax hike as part of the recent transit bailout package, the request became superfluous. The board is now urging voters to reject the question.
Tax hike requests are also in store for voters in Itasca, Winfield Township, Addison Park District, Aurora's Fox Valley Park District, Lombard Park District, St. Charles Park District, Winfield Fire Protection District, Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200, Naperville Unit District 203 and Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89.
District 203 and District 200 voters are being asked to approve increases for school construction projects. In Naperville, the requested $43 million would be mainly used to upgrade Naperville Central High School. District 200 officials need $58 million for a new Hubble Middle School that would be built in Warrenville.
Lombard Park District officials are asking voters permission to borrow $5.9 million for an outdoor aquatics center. Fox Valley Park District officials want to borrow $44.8 million for land acquisition and other measures.
Nelson said voters don't have to vote in the presidential primary to vote on ballot questions.
"We have to have a separate ballot for nonpartisan voters that don't want to declare a party, but want to voice their opinion on referendums," she said.
Referendum questions in DuPage County
Twenty-one questions from 18 different municipal and county agencies will appear on Tuesday's ballot.
DuPage County
To enact a quarter-cent sales tax increase to fund public safety initiatives. (In wake of state transit bailout, county expects new revenues and is encouraging public to vote "no" on this measure.)
Hinsdale
To acquire electric power transmission facilities.
Itasca
To borrow $1.75 million for repairs and upgrades of library.
Villa Park
To reinstate home rule powers, which would give the village greater latitude in creating local laws. Officials say money will not be used to raise taxes.
Addison Township
Three advisory questions: Do you oppose O'Hare International Airport expansion; whether the township should pursue state funds to improve transit, and whether to expand senior citizen and family programming.
Winfield Township
Asking voters for a 2-cent tax-rate increase to pay for paving and maintenance projects for 48 miles of township roads.
Lisle Township
To contract with a refuse, disposal and recycling program.
Addison Park District
To borrow $14 million for an outdoor aquatics center.
Fox Valley Park District
To borrow $44.8 million for land acquisition, other measures.
Lombard Park District
To borrow $5.9 million for an outdoor aquatics center.
St. Charles Park District
To borrow $25 million for land acquisition and various maintenance projects.
Winfield Fire Protection District
To lift the tax cap for each of the next four years to allow for 12.5 percent tax increases to pay for three new full-time firefighters.
A second question initiated by residents asks voters whether the fire district's board of trustees should be elected by the public.
Fountaindale Public Library
To borrow $48.6 million for a new facility.
Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200
To borrow $58 million for a new Hubble Middle School.
Naperville Unit District 203
To borrow $43 million for Naperville Central High School and other school improvements.
Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89
To borrow $24.8 million to pay for technology and building improvements.
Cass Elementary District 63 (Darien)
To lift the tax cap next year to allow for a 30 percent tax increase to prevent a budget deficit.
Burr Ridge Elementary District 180
To lift the tax cap next year to take in up to an additional $1.1 million in tax revenue to pay off school bonds.