Even if it doesn't look like a tax hike, we say 'no' to District 33

West Chicago Elementary District 33 is pitching a "no-tax-increase" proposal aiming to raise $49 million largely to renovate West Chicago Middle School to bring sixth graders into middle school with the seventh and eighth graders. Renovating other schools to relieve crowding also is part of the plan.

It wouldn't look like a tax increase because old debt would be paid off while the district takes on the new debt. But if voters reject the proposal, they could eventually pay less in taxes. The $295 the owner of a $300,000 home pays each year to the district's bond and interest fund would over years diminish to zero.

District leaders want to implement a team-teaching concept in its new middle school; they says they wouldn't be able to do that without the new borrowing, plus they would have to consider mobile classrooms, busing students, larger class sizes and redrawing school boundaries.

The district has done an excellent job of providing information about this ballot question, even being honest about taxes decreasing if voters don't approve the proposal.

But we can't in this economy support locking in the current bond and interest tax rate for several more years, especially when the district may have to seek voters' approval to raise the separate education fund tax rate in coming years.

We recommend voting "no."