Array of referendums face Fox Valley voters in November

Voters in McHenry and northern Kane counties will have more to decide on election day than whether they believe in change or putting country first.

Ballots issues ranging from tax hikes for libraries to land sales for park districts to a not so welcoming gift for one community's newest members will confront voters on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Residents of the Huntley Area Public Library will be asked to vote on a property tax increase that would cost the owners of a $250,000 home an additional $60 a year for starters.

The increase would enable the library to issue $9.5 million in bonds to finance a 33,000-square-foot addition.

The rate increase would also fund a $750,000 increase in the library's annual operating budget.

Library officials say the expansion is needed to update a building initially designed to serve about 5,000 cardholders. The library today has an estimated 24,000 cardholders.

The extra funding also would allow the library to expand its collection and services and hire new employees to staff the addition, officials said.

West Dundee voters also will be asked to endorse a tax increase, but not one that will affect them.

As part of an effort to make up for dwindling sales-tax revenues, the village is asking voters to impose a one-time tax on newcomers buying a home or commercial property.

The tax, at a rate of $5 per $1,000 of the property's sale price, could raise about $200,000 a year, officials say.

Voters in Algonquin and Lake in the Hills aren't being asked to add to their tax bills. Instead, they're being asked to add to their fire district board.

The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District is asking voters to approve plans to expand its board from three to five members.

The move comes at the behest of a citizens group, as well as Trustee Virgil Corliss, who believe adding trustees would bring a wider range of opinions and make the board more efficient.

In Cary, voters will be asked for the second time since 2007 whether the Cary Park District should sell more than 80 acres of the 268-acre Hoffman Park to raise money for a multipurpose sports facility.

A similar measure, expected to raise about $16 million if successful, failed last year by just 140 votes.