Consider the options for Mundelein High

Well, they finally did it. Mundelein High School District 120 was able to schnooker 11,005 people into voting for a sizable tax increase that will compensate for decades of neglect at Mundelein High School.

This time around, we were told the bond of $149. 5 million would be extended to 30 years (from the standard of 20 years). This in an effort to lower the burden on the average taxpayer. We were told that someone with a home worth $300,000 can expect an increase on their property tax bill of a mere $414 annually.

What they didn’t tell you was that the cost of extending that debt would be $60 million. And heaven forbid they would mention the tax implication of the other $50 million bond they’ve been sitting on for three years. Once they tap into those funds, you can bet, you’ll be digging even deeper come tax time. And, per the MHS website, they do plan to use those funds first.

Now, about the facility itself. Is it reasonable to think dumping $200 million into a more than 60-year-old building makes sense? Keeping in mind that there isn’t enough acreage to support a complete high school experience. The district has suggested building athletic fields on the 93-acre Village Green golf course property they own, which is roughly three times the size of the current address.

Logic might dictate they go all in at the Village Green location and build a completely new school. Ah, but that would be too logical. Or, since CVS at Midlothian and 176 closed shop, perhaps they can acquire that property along with the buildings on either side to make room for the $200 million expansion.

I guess we shall see in due time.

Jeff Issel

Mundelein