District 214 could ask voters to approve $300 million for school renovations

Northwest Suburban High School District 214 school board members are leaning toward asking voters to approve at least $300 million in new taxing authority for school renovations — seen as the least costly option and most likely to win voter approval in November.

Growing concern over rising costs and economic pressures have led officials to claw back their potential ask of voters — in what would be the Arlington Heights-based district’s first referendum in some five decades — from a starting point of about $900 million nearly two years ago.

Rounds of public surveys, last fall, and again in early May, revealed tepid support for the district’s highest priced plans, but an openness to lower-priced options.

“A lot has changed in the world. Gas prices are up. Unemployment is up. Inflation is up. And my concern is that when people go to the polling places and they think about their pocketbook, another hit might be too much,” said school board President Frank Fiarito. “It’s going to be a tough sell.”

Fiarito and board members late last week expressed their early preferences for a ballot question at varying cost levels — $300 million, $375 million, $450 million, or an in-between hybrid option — ahead of a July 23 meeting when they’re expected to solidify a dollar amount tied to specific projects.

The school board would vote to approve formal ballot language Aug. 6, ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

Fiarito said he’s OK with the $300 million proposal, though prefers something about $50 million less.

“We need to focus strictly on the needs of the district,” he said.

The so-called Option 1 calls for building upgrades covering electrical, pavement, door hardware and card access, fire alarm systems, HVAC, plumbing, new boilers, roofs, elevators, windows, stadium and gym bleachers safety, science lab and theater renovations. It would yield a yearly tax increase of roughly $190 for the owner of a $396,500 house, district officials estimate.

Option 2, at $375 million, would put additional projects on that list, for a $238 annual tax increase.

Option 3, at $450 million, adds more projects, for $285 more in taxes per year.

In the latest round of online surveys conducted by district consultant EO Sullivan, Option 1 was ranked highest.

A phone survey showed 25% picked Option 1, 15% liked Option 2 and 22% favored Option 3.

But a majority — 32% — preferred no additional funding. That’s a slight uptick from earlier phone polls.

Ed Sullivan, the former Republican state representative from Mundelein who runs the consulting firm that conducted the polling, believes that’s not surprising, or a cause for concern for the district’s chances at the ballot box.

Framed a different way, more people supported some level of tax increase than none at all, and Sullivan said he thinks the district would have “pretty good success” at any of the three cost levels.

He recommended a hybrid approach — something above $375 million, but less than $400 million.

Echoing concerns over affordability and lack of voter appetite, board Vice President Vicki Chung pushed back on that suggestion, favoring the “smallest, most disciplined” $300 million plan.

Others board members, including Joe Sagerer and Mark Hineman, liked $300 million as a starting point, but were open to incorporating other projects.

Bill Dussling, the longest-tenured board member at 28 years, expressed urgency to get any type of question on the ballot this fall.

“We need it. We’ve got a 69-year-old school. The youngest one is 53 years old,” Dussling said. “We’ve got to move. And I’m satisfied that we’ve got data that we can move forward with.”