Voters to decide $30 million question at Warren

Proponents and foes have made their pitches, but voters will make the call Tuesday on whether Warren Township High School should borrow $30 million mostly for expansion of the Almond Road upperclassmen campus.

Backers say a "yes" vote would result in lower taxes for property owners within Gurnee-based Warren District 121's boundaries.

Opponents contend a reduced tax rate shouldn't hinge on the ballot measure winning, and that residents would foot the bill in the long run if Warren obtains the construction loan.

Refinancing of construction debt four years ago would allow Warren to offer a 9-cent tax-rate cut if the request to borrow the $30 million is granted, according to proponents. They say an owner of a $300,000 market value home would pay about $88 less toward the bond and interest fund next year.

Although the bond and interest rate was set to dip from 28 to 14 cents per $100 of equalized assessed valuation next year, a Warren board majority agreed to not let that happen if the referendum request fails. Instead, District 121 will keep the rate at 28 cents and use the money to accelerate debt payments.

Red "Vote No" signs in the Gurnee area have been part of the visible opposition to the proposal. Opponents say it defies logic to borrow a maximum of $30 million in an effort to reduce taxes.

If voters approve, Warren would add 14 new classrooms, renovate offices, build more physical education space and expand the cafeteria into the Black Box Theater at the 11-year-old Almond building for juniors and seniors. Roughly 2,200 pupils would be accommodated with the proposed expansion that also includes another access road to reduce traffic congestion and a new fine-arts facility built onto the school.

Plans also call for fire-alarm system repairs at Almond and the O'Plaine Road campus for freshmen and sophomores, as well as fixing and replacing telephone and security systems at both buildings.

In 2004, voters gave approval for Warren to borrow $15.5 million to pay for facility changes at the Almond and O'Plaine campuses.

Growth at the Almond Road campus is cited as the primary reason for Tuesday's $30 million request.