Dist. 75 seeks votes for repairs, air conditioning

Voters in Mundelein Elementary District 75 will be asked two questions on the February primary ballot about funding building repairs and improvements.

One question will ask voters to allow the district to issue $6.6 million in bonds to fund general repairs and improvements to its schools. The other asks whether $3.3 million in bonds should be issued to air condition the buildings.

Cost for all the projects includes a 10 percent contingency and 10 percent for architectural fees.

Discussions regarding so-called life-safety improvements have been ongoing. Volunteers are being sought, and an effort to convince voters to approve the measures has begun.

Volunteers plan to distribute information at upcoming events, register voters at each of the district's four schools and spread the word door-to-door and by phone. Special attention also will be aimed at talking with seniors.

"Remember, it's not just the parents in the community who will vote on this," said Lynne Welch, a coordinator on the newly formed referendum committee.

The ace in the marketing game is that, despite the new spending, the district's tax rate would still drop -- though not by as much as it would have. Other bond issues will be paid off.

The district estimates if both questions are approved the owner of a $300,000 home would pay about $291 toward district bond and interest payments, or about $123 less than in 2006.

If no bonds are issued, the same owner would pay about $166 toward bond and interest, or about $248 less than last year.

"This is not going to cost you more than you're already paying," Welch says she'll be telling voters. "I can honestly say that this portion of your tax bill won't go up."

The improvements would repair deficiencies, such as leaking roofs, detailed during a required state building inspection. District officials say they are needed basics, not wish-list items, although it was decided to pursue air conditioning separately.

"They (school board) were afraid if the community saw it as a frivolous item, they would vote against the whole thing and we'd be back where we are now," Welch said.

A meeting for volunteers is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at the Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein.