Fox Valley Park District may need referendum to fund capital projects

To pay for an ambitious $71.4 million list of potential capital projects in the next few years, Fox Valley Park District trustees may need to ask voters for a tax increase.

At their Monday meeting, officials discussed possible projects and funding sources for the next three to five years.

"I swallowed very hard when I saw the amount of money," board President Linda Cole said. "I also realized this is an opportunity."

The district is approaching a crossroads, Executive Director Steve Messerli said, where, simply put, things will either get better or worse.

"(There's) a lot of projects and a lot of work that needs to be done to move the district forward," he said.

Among the potential projects and cost estimates: $15 million for buying open space, $2.5 million for improving regional trails, $14 million for enhancing community and neighborhood parks, $17 million for developing and renovating Stuart Sports Complex, $3.5 million for improving aquatic parks, $4 million for upgrading Blackberry Farm and $2 million to improve Orchard Valley Golf Course.

Park district officials have about $4.6 million in existing funding sources for those projects.

To close that gap, officials could consider a combination of options, including partnerships, grants, user fee increases, developer donations, various bonds and a referendum.

The first opportunities for a referendum would be in February or November 2008, leaders say.

After her initial surprise at the full to-do list, Cole said she then got excited. "(These projects) need to be done and we're not going to have the money unless we do something," she said.

The plan represents a way for the district to "have it all," she said.

Trustee Theodia Gillespie said there's so much, they'll have to at some point prioritize projects. "This is a starting point for us," she said.

Trustees have made no decisions regarding the proposed capital plan. Monday's presentation was simply a launch pad for talks, leaders said.

In 2002, about 71 percent of voters approved a $33 million referendum to build the Vaughan Athletic Center and improve Prisco and Eola centers.

In a 2006 survey, residents also indicated they would support a $30- to $40 million-range referendum for capital projects.

The next step, Messerli said, is for the district's financial experts to do more number crunching. If officials decide to go to referendum, he said, they will need to make plans soon to form a resident committee and start a public information campaign.