Lake Co. tax hikes might have been matter of voter trust

With economic concerns swirling around the United States, voters in Wauconda and the Grayslake area will part with their hard-earned money in the form of tax increases approved Tuesday.

How could they do such a thing?

Grayslake Fire Protection District Chief Donald Mobley and Wauconda Mayor Salvatore Saccomanno said the answer to that question is found in one word: trust.

In Wauconda, residents approved the village's request to borrow $7 million to pay for road improvements, with unofficial results showing 2,858 in favor and 2,177 opposed. The owner of a $260,000 market value home will pay an extra $99 in taxes next year.

Saccomanno said he believes voters trusted village government, in part because it has a track record of delivering on promised projects when tax hikes were sought in previous years.

Moreover, said Saccomanno, Wauconda public works has built a rapport with residents with employees getting into neighborhoods. He said public works crews recently went around town in an effort to help residents avoid having their street-side mailboxes knocked over by snowplows.

"I think a lot of (ballot success) can be attributed to the service of our public works department," Saccomanno said Wednesday. "

Unofficial results show Grayslake-area residents voted 8,117 to 7,128 in favor of higher taxes funding a new station and improving the staffing and services of the local fire protection district. The district includes Grayslake and parts of Third lake, Hainesville, Round Lake Park, Round Lake Beach and unincorporated areas.

Mobley said the fire protection district has gained the trust of the community by getting into neighborhoods for block parties and welcoming visitors, particularly children, into its facilities.

"That increased the level of trust," Mobley said. "We're not going to take your money and run with it."

Gurnee-based Warren Township High School District 121 also had ballot-box success involving taxes Tuesday, although an increase wasn't sought. Warren received permission to borrow up to $30 million mostly to expand the Almond Road upperclassmen campus.

Warren officials and other backers told voters refinancing of debt four years ago will allow a 9-cent tax rate cut as part of borrowing the $30 million. An owner of a $300,000 market value home will pay about $88 less toward the bond and interest fund next year.

Still, opponents questioned the validity of getting a tax decrease by borrowing $30 million.

Warren board President John Anderson said the school district likely earned support from residents with careful spending and budget cuts over the last four years. He added much study occurred before the decision to borrow for projects at Almond and the O'Plaine Road campus for freshmen and sophomores.

"We had a good message," Anderson said.

Unofficial totals show Warren's request won 12,277 to 8,558.