Editorial: Voters have spoken, officials must listen

It is the job of the voters to let their elected officials know how they want tax money spent. It’s the job of the officials to listen.

In several suburbs with referendums last week, the messages were sent. Arlington Heights residents turned down a parks initiative, and voters in Itasca and Prospect Heights said no to granting home rule authority, which would have allowed more fiscal flexibility.

Conversely — and somewhat surprisingly at a time when property taxes have risen and gas prices here are close to the highest in the nation — voters in other suburbs approved tax increases.

The election results are solemn directives, and we’re already seeing officials huddle to determine the next crucial steps. Where ballot proposals failed, officials must take the charges with renewed courage and make changes necessary to improve the public’s financial health. Where tax increases passed, they must ensure the extra revenue provides the bang for the buck taxpayers are expecting.

Arlington Heights Park District officials had hoped residents would allow them to borrow $48 million to renovate four regional parks. The bond issue failed 6,396 to 5,762, with many opponents calling it overambitious. A critical look at data already collected is imperative as the board regroups. More than ever, creative solutions are needed.

Itasca, where an attempt at home-rule status failed, has watched its chief source of revenue — sales taxes — plummet and has been cutting road funds and other services. Now village officials have to do more with less, including making decisions that may be politically tough.

On the flip side, elected officials in some Lake County and Fox Valley towns are basking in ballot issue triumphs. Libertyville can move ahead on repairing streets after approval of a tax increase. A similar scenario played out in Kildeer, and in Fox River Grove, a sales tax hike passed by just two votes (unofficially) and residents can now expect infrastructure improvements in the downtown area.

Following another tight vote in Fox Lake Elementary District 114, school officials will have the cash to keep programs operating normally. Superintendent John Donnellan said voters’ support “shows us that we are heading in the right direction and being a financially conservative as we can.”

That has to continue. These tax increases are not windfalls and shouldn’t be viewed as such. They were won by hard-fought campaigns that convinced voters — in some cases barely a majority — that the extra funds would be spent prudently. This principle also applies in the dozens of suburbs where electrical aggregation was approved, allowing officials to shop around for suppliers. Moving forward on the research and the required public hearings is of utmost importance as ComEd will reveal its pricing in June and competitive bidding will start.

While achieving fiscal stability is not easy these days, the people’s mandates must be followed — swiftly, thoughtfully and responsibly.