Lake Co. voters to face $185 million land-buy question this November

Lake County voters will decide in November whether the forest preserve district should borrow $185 million for future land purchases and the development of its preserves.

The forest board voted Tuesday to put the proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Forest district officials have said the loan, if approved, would offset an anticipated tax-rate reduction. Older bonds that were used for land buys and improvements are being retired, and the amount of property taxes for bond and interest payments is scheduled to drop.

Supporters of the proposal said the planned rate reduction wouldn't have much of a real-world impact on residents' tax bills.

"The amount of the rebate is so small compared to what the benefits are," said Commissioner Michael Talbett, a Lake Zurich Republican.

Tuesday's vote, which occurred during a rare outdoor meeting at the Nippersink Forest Preserve in Round Lake, was not unanimous; while 16 commissioners voted in favor of the plan, members Pam Newton, Brent Paxton and Randy Whitmore opposed the measure.

Paxton, a Zion Republican, and Whitmore, a Wadsworth Republican, said the district should work to reduce property taxes rather than borrowing the money.

Homeowners would appreciate any kind of tax relief in light of the nation's current economic woes, Whitmore said.

"I don't care how small it is," he said. "A tax rebate is a tax rebate."

Paxton called the possible tax-rate decrease a "golden opportunity" to give homeowners a financial break. He criticized the prevailing talk that the $185 million loan would maintain the financial status quo.

"This is a tax increase," he said. "If we did nothing, people's taxes would go down."

Newton wasn't opposed to borrowing money but thought the district should seek a loan for $175 million, a figure floated during recent committee meetings. Such a loan wouldn't have as much of an impact on tax rates, she said.

"I think holding the line on taxes isn't good enough," said Newton, a Long Grove Republican.

Commissioner Suzi Schmidt said she favored putting the question to voters so they can decide whether to raise the money.

"The public is very intelligent, and the public will make up (its) mind," said Schmidt, a Lake Villa Republican.

Board member Diana O'Kelly took a similar tack.

"I just truly want to know... do you want us to buy more land or not?" the Mundelein Republican said.