Breaking down November's ballot questions

In addition to voting for the next president, Lake County residents will decide the fates of 16 referendums on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

No voters will find all 16 questions on their ballots, of course. Most are limited to specific geographical areas.

Only one is countywide, while another will be on every ballot in the state.

Here's a look at some of the questions in the Daily Herald's Lake County coverage area, with brief summaries and explanations of their financial impacts:

Lake County Forest Preserve District

Question: Should the county borrow up to $185,000 to buy and develop more land?

What it means to your wallet: If the proposal is approved, it will erase a planned tax-rate decrease. The tax-rate will drop if voters oppose the plan. If that happens, the owner of a $200,000 house would pay about $24 less in taxes to the district.

Village of Round Lake Beach

Question: Should the village clerk be appointed by the village president or elected?

What it means to your wallet: Nothing.

Village of Wauconda

Question: Should the village borrow $7 million for street and storm sewer improvements?

What it means to your wallet: If approved, the owner of a typical house valued at $260,000 would pay an additional $99 in property taxes to the village for 15 years, starting in 2009.

Diamond Lake Elementary District 76

Question: Should the rate for the operating fund increase and the rate for building-related bonds decrease?

What it means to your wallet: The district tax rate won't change if the proposal passes. If it is rejected, the rate likely would fall because of recently restructured debt. Officials could restructure debt again to keep the rate steady if the plan is defeated.

Warren Township High School District 121

Question: Should the board borrow $30 million for facility improvements, mostly at the Almond Road campus?

What it means to your wallet: The loan, if approved, would offset an anticipated tax-rate reduction. If the plan is rejected, the owner of a typical house valued at $300,000 would pay about $143 less in taxes to the district in 2009.

Antioch Fire Protection District

Question: Should the district create a new tax for ambulance services?

What it means to your wallet: For the owner of a house valued at $200,000, taxes to the district would increase about $146 in 2009.

Grayslake Fire Protection District

Question: Should the tax rate increase to pay for more employees, improve facilities and build a new station?

What it means to your wallet: The owner of a typical house valued at $200,000 would pay an extra $111 in taxes in 2009.

State of Illinois

Question: Should the state hold a constitutional convention?

What it means to your wallet: Nothing.

Village of Long Grove

Question: Shall the village establish a tax increment financing district to raise money for improvements in the downtown and adjacent areas? (NOTE: This is advisory only. The village board already has voted to create the district.)

What it means to your wallet: It won't affect property tax bills.

Other government agencies putting questions to Lake County voters are: the village of Wheeling, the city of Zion, Shields Township (which has two referendums), Highland Park park district, Barrington Public Library and Harper College.