Wauconda votes to improve roads

Wauconda voters approved the village's request to borrow $7 million to pay for road improvements Tuesday.

With ballots in 12 of 12 precincts counted, unofficial results showed 2,858 people voted for the village taking out the loan, while 2,177 opposed it. The vote totals do not include all early voting, absentee or provisional ballots.

The owner of a $260,000 home, considered the median home value in Wauconda, will pay roughly $99 in additional taxes annually. The money will be used to repair eight miles of road and would be repaid in 15 years.

The borrowed money will fix roads in older subdivisions that haven't been touched for 15 to 20 years and are in need of total reconstruction or resurfacing.

Village officials have said they have no other way to fund these road repairs since current motor fuel tax revenues are earmarked to repay $7 million borrowed for a previous road and water project.