Companies in line for Gurnee school work support referendum
Two companies that stand to profit from Gurnee Elementary District 56's proposal to borrow $28.5 million, most of it to build a new school, have given money to a group promoting a “yes” vote.
Addison-based Frederick Quinn Corp. would be the project's construction manager. Its hiring is contingent on the results of the Nov. 2 referendum.
Ohio-based Fanning/Howey Associates Inc., with local offices in Park Ridge, is in a similar situation. The architecture, engineering and design firm is in line for District 56's business if the $28.5 million comes through.
Most of the $28.5 million would build a new grade school in Wadsworth, and allow District 56 to leave the flood-prone Gurnee Grade School near the Des Plaines River.
Fanning/Howey and Quinn contributed a combined $2,000 to the “yes” vote effort, according to state campaign finance disclosure records. Citizens for District 56 Schools reported the separate $1,000 gifts on Oct. 13.
District 56 has a $1.3 million joint budget for the architects and engineers, Superintendent John Hutton said. The construction management budget is expected to be $600,000 to $700,000.
Warren Township resident Shawn Depke, of the anti-referendum group Concerned Citizens, said the donations were inappropriate because each company has something to gain from a successful referendum.
He said the General Assembly should make such contributions illegal.
“How I view it is, it's like Springfield and Chicago doing business as usual,” Depke said this week. “They're giving money to get a job.”
David Morrison, deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform watchdog organization, said he believes the donations from Quinn and Fanning/Howey are conflicts of interest.
He added, however, it's common for contractors to support efforts to pass school construction ballot measures.
But Carrie Kocen, a Citizens for District 56 Schools volunteer, argued there is no story here.
“Any person, group or company that chooses to contribute to our citizens group does so because they are supporting our efforts to educate the public on the facts surrounding the issue,” Kocen said Wednesday.
Jack Hayes, executive vice president of operations for Quinn, said the company often works on school projects and gives to local education-related foundations. He said there was nothing wrong with the Citizens for District 56 Schools donation.
“We just think it's good business to support the communities that support us,” Hayes said.
J. Scott Winchester, a Fanning/Howey project executive and principal, said the company's donation to District 56's supporters was not unusual and is a way to help the community.
Morrison called that “nonsense.”
“They support communities that pay them,” he scoffed.
Figures show District 56's bond-and-interest fund tax rate for property owners would mostly hold steady if voters approve the $28.5 million request, although they would pay off debt for a longer period of time.
Officials say about $15 million in debt would be repaid by 2015. Payments made on that loan would then be used to cover the payments on the new debt.
An owner of a $300,000 home this year will pay about $495 toward the district's bond and interest fund. That would decline to $420 in 2011 and reach $462 in 2016 if the ballot measure is approved.
Rejection of the borrowing question would mean an owner of a $300,000 home would pay a slightly higher $525 to the bond-and-interest fund in 2011, but it will decline to $207 in 2016, according to District 56.
Neither Fanning/Howey nor Quinn have been paid for services the companies have provided so far to District 56.