advertisement

District 64 voters to decide fate of $89.1 million facilities plan

Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 voters this fall will be asked to approve a roughly $89.1 million loan for facility improvements.

The District 64 board voted Aug. 15 to put the plan on the ballot. The decision was unanimous.

“This is an exciting moment,” board President Denise Pearl said after the vote.

The roll call followed a failed effort to reduce the sum to be borrowed to roughly $85.1 million.

If approved, the loan will fund health, safety, and security upgrades throughout the district; mechanical and infrastructure improvements; classroom and science lab upgrades; and more.

Likely projects would include the installation of new fire alarm systems, the installation of new classroom doors and door frames, asbestos removal, improving access for people with physical disabilities and improving lighting at several schools. Additions at Field Elementary School and Franklin Elementary School for special education programming and student support services are planned, too.

A sign warns people of a broken window inside a classroom at Lincoln Middle School in Park Ridge. Courtesy of District 64

“The board believes that this is the critical time to do these upgrades and improvements,” Pearl said. “Our schools desperately need them.”

The board reduced the sum that could be borrowed from about $92 million. The plan previously had been to borrow as much as $98 million.

If voters approve the plan, a typical homeowner with a $500,000 house would pay an additional $411 in property taxes to the district the first year. The tax burden would’ve been higher under earlier proposals.

To determine how the proposal would affect your tax bill, visit d64.org/referendum-2024-tax-calculator.

District 64 voters last approved a tax-rate increase in 2007. The last facilities-related tax increase passed in 1997.

Election Day is Nov. 5. Until then, District 64 officials will try to educate residents about the proposal at more than a dozen in-person and online presentations. A schedule is available at d64.org/referendum2024.

Recordings of the board’s Oct. 15 meeting and prior discussions of the plan are available online at youtube.com/@d64boemeetings.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.