Voters reject Vernon Area Library District’s request to fund renovation, expansion
A major renovation and expansion does not appear to be in the cards for the Lincolnshire-based Vernon Area Public Library District in its first request for new funding in more than 30 years.
Voter opposition Tuesday for a measure to allow the district to raise taxes to fund $39.5 million in bonds for long-sought improvements outweighed support.
Unofficial estimated totals showed 54% against the measure and 46% in support. The county clerk’s office reported technical difficulties which delayed vote posting. As of 11 p.m., Election Day and early voting ballots had been added and only vote-by-mail ballots were listed as being partially included.
Still, the percentage of voters in favor of funding the library project held firm when a fourth batch was released. The owner of a home valued at $400,000 would have paid an additional $121 more per year in property taxes each year.
Ongoing financial pressures, cited by opponents in other tax hike referendums, may have been a factor for the district that serves 44,000 residents in Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Vernon Hills and neighboring communities.
The measure failed despite the library district planning to fund $13.5 million of the estimated $53 million project cost with existing savings and non-referendum bonds.
Library officials said the project was needed because the population has and the ways people use the library have evolved beyond the design of the 1993 facility.
The plan called for adding about 21,000 square feet to the existing 55,000-square-foot building at 300 Olde Half Day Road. The new space would have been an 11,000-square-foot addition connecting the main library building, now called the Annex. The 10,000-square-foot Annex will be renovated into a community maker space and large program room.
Other key project features include relocating the main entrance closer to parking, renovating existing spaces, and, updating heating/cooling, electrical and lighting systems.
The library took several steps to reach district voters about the bond referendum and proposed building project.
The fall newsletter included three pages of information including conceptual images, ballot wording and a link to a dedicated information page on the library website. That page included additional images and an interactive tax calculator.
Library leaders and staff also hosted a table at community events to answer questions and mailed a fact-based informational postcard to every home in the district.
Library Director Anne Rasmussen in the fall newsletter said if the measure didn’t pass the district would use available resources to address the top priorities with updating the 30-year-old heating and cooling system topping the list.
mzawislak@dailyherald.com