Voters in no mood for tax hikes

Don't accuse suburban voters of being "yes" men.

On Tuesday, voters answered "no" to several ballot questions, especially those requiring substantial tax hikes for property owners.

The list includes:

• A tax increase that would have enabled the Huntley Area Public Library to triple in size.

• A West Dundee real estate tax that would have filled a $375,000 shortfall in the village's budget.

• A tax hike that would have funded a $34.3 million addition to the Barrington Area Library.

• A tax increase to fund an addition to the Sugar Grove Public Library.

• A $21.9 million community center for the Lisle Park District.

Voters didn't reject all ballot measures. Among the local questions that passed were the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District's request to expand its board of trustees and the Cary Park District's plan to sell 87 acres to fund a new sports center.

Those measures required small or no tax increases, while those requiring larger hikes failed.

"I think people are just nervous," said Virginia Maravilla, executive director of the Huntley library.

Supporters of the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills fire department request said it helped that the measure carried a small price tag - $6,000 in annual stipends for two new board members.

"I have no doubt the financial side of things played on our side," said Jeff Harper, a former Algonquin-Lake in the Hills firefighter who helped organize a pro-referendum campaign.

The Cary Park District's plan to sell up to 87 acres of the westernmost section of the Hoffman Park property would pay for the park district's proposed multi-purpose sports complex at Cary-Grove Park without a tax increase. The complex is estimated to cost between $16 million and $26 million.

The same referendum failed in 2007 by 140 votes.

The stingy mood of suburban voters could affect decision-making by local schools districts, some of which say they need new schools whether or not the housing market recovers soon.

One place a tax increase proposal won't be on the table in Community High School District 155, a spokesman said.

"We've done a lot of long-range planning," District 155 spokesman Jeff Puma said. "I don't anticipate that it's really an issue at this point."