Dist. 89 ponders tax increase in early 2008

A majority of the residents who responded to a survey by Glen Ellyn Elementary School District 89 said they would vote for a tax increase in early 2008.

But less than half said they would support the most expensive option for raising money for building, technology and program improvements.

The district solicited the opinions from 300 regular and likely voters during the June phone survey to gauge public reaction to a possible referendum.

About 72 percent said they would support a $12.5 million option to update facilities, technology and programs.

Meanwhile, 60 percent of the people surveyed said they would support a $21.4 million option. Support for a $26.8 million plan was 43 percent.

On the other hand, 21 percent of the residents opposed the $12.5 million plan, 36 percent opposed the $21.4 million option and 53 percent opposed the $26.8 million plan.

The remainder were undecided.

District 89 officials are in the preliminary stage of discussing whether a referendum will be sought. A final decision isn't expected until September.

"The (survey) results will be used to guide our decision with the community's input to try to make the best decision possible for the educational programs and facilities," Superintendent John Perdue said.

Board Secretary Mary Kataura said she wasn't surprised by the results.

"It was really what I expected," she said. "I did think that as people heard the higher number, they'd be sticker shocked."

Kataura said it's now the board's responsibility to go over all the recommendations in detail.

"Let's take a look at it and see if we can build the perfect package that we can present to the community," she said.

After months of digging deep into studies, the facilities advisory council in June recommended a budget of just under $27 million for work on parking lots, sidewalks, roofing, life-safety issues, building improvements, safeguarding against asbestos, mechanical, electrical and plumbing improvements and site improvements to the district's five schools and office.

The program evaluation committee also recommended an additional budget of $630,000 for at-risk improvements, professional development and full-day kindergarten.

The $12 million proposal includes doing work on parking lots, sidewalks, roofing and life safety issues.

The $21.7 million option would include everything from the $12 million budget, along with building improvements, safeguarding against asbestos, mechanical, electrical and plumbing improvements, and technological infrastructure.