Indoor pools, a new police station and roads: What funding questions are on the ballot for suburban voters?

Voters across the suburbs next month will decide whether to approve property tax increases for schools, roadwork and a new recreation hub.

Here's a look at some of the referendum questions on the ballots in the suburbs:

Cook County

Prospect Heights

Prospect Heights is asking voters to borrow $21.5 million to provide funding for road and bridge maintenance at the same level of the past 15 years.

As the debt from the 2010 referendum for this purpose is paid off in December, the new funding would kick in to continue the maintenance for another 20 years, City Administrator Peter Falcone said.

A typical $450,000 home in Prospect Heights pays less than $500 in property tax to the city each year. Rejecting the new funding would cause that to go down by about two thirds, but leave roads in much poorer condition than today, Falcone added.

About 14% of the funding would go to such new projects as the completion of bridge maintenance on Maple Road, sidewalk improvements along Willow Road and Burning Bush Lane, curb improvements at intersections and the purchase of needed road maintenance vehicles and equipment, officials said.

DuPage County

Naperville

The Naperville Park District is seeking voter approval to borrow $120 million to build an activity center at the Frontier Sports Complex at the south end of the city.

The proposed building near Neuqua Valley High School would house indoor pools, a fitness center, gymnasiums, a walking-jogging track, an indoor playground and other amenities. The seasonal Centennial Beach is the district’s only swimming facility.

If approved, the owner of a $500,000 home would pay an estimated $117 a year more in property taxes to the district based on financing with a term not to exceed 20 years.

Executive Director Brad Wilson said the park district has “continually heard from south Naperville an interest in having more indoor recreation space.”

The center would have three types of indoor pools: an eight-lane by 25-yard lap pool; an activity pool with a family-friendly water slide, play features and additional lap lanes; and a warm-water therapy pool.

“Many are aging in place, and with that, we need to grow and evolve our programs to be able to accommodate those that are aging,” Wilson said during a recent podcast episode. “Many of those types of programs provide for health and wellness in an indoor setting.”

The project has raised questions from Fry Family YMCA Executive Director Erika Wood, who noted the proposed facility would be just 3,800 feet from the Y.

The park district has said its research indicates that there is a need for both.

District 45

The Villa Park-based school district is seeking a tax increase that would generate $4.3 million a year.

The funds would allow the district to expand instructional programming, add security upgrades and address projected budget deficits.

If approved, the owner of a $350,000 house would pay an additional $299 in property taxes to the district a year.

Without the funds, the district warns that officials could look to increase class sizes, among other “difficult decisions” to help balance its budget.

Wood Dale

In Wood Dale, voters will weigh in on a non-binding question asking if backyard chickens should be allowed.

The question seeks input on whether the city should change its zoning code to allow for hens to be kept as an “accessory use” in single-family homes within the city limits. Roosters would not be allowed.

Milton Township

Township voters are being asked to approve a property tax increase to help fund a new building to store highway maintenance equipment.

The township hopes to collect roughly $2 million over a two-year period for a new highway department building to store equipment, including heavy machinery.

If approved, the owner of a $600,000 home would pay the township an additional $48 annually for two years.

Oakbrook Terrace Fire Protection District

The Oakbrook Terrace Fire Protection District is seeking an increase in its levy to purchase new equipment.

If voters approve the ballot question, the owner of a $300,000 home could expect to pay about $100 more in annual property taxes.

“We’re trying to replace aging apparatus,” Fire Chief John Turkovich said. “The average life span of apparatus is about 25 years.”

Kane County

Elgin

In Elgin, voters will weigh in on whether the city and Elgin Community College should explore a partnership to develop walking paths within College Park, a 60-acre parcel adjacent to the ECC campus consisting mostly of a wetland area. The nonbinding question was put on the ballot via a resident petition.

Geneva

Geneva taxpayers are being asked for $59.4 million so the city can build a new police station and address public safety issues at its two fire stations.

If approved, the owner of a $500,000 home would pay about $400 a year in additional property taxes to fund the improvements.

The city hopes to build a 450,000-square-foot police headquarters on property it owns near the public works building at 1800 South St. The new facility would replace an aging two-story police station downtown.

The existing station lacks storage space and needs significant repairs, according to an architectural assessment.

“There are significant concerns with security systems throughout the building, including access to evidence, evidence processing, secure offices, and adjacent finance department space,” the StudioGC report found.

If it moves forward with the project, the city plans to sell the station site to help reduce costs.

Lake County

Fox Lake Fire Protection District

Saying it can wait no longer, the Fox Lake Fire Protection District is seeking voter approval for a tax increase to fund pensions.

State law requires fire departments with full-time firefighters to provide a pension, but the “mandate does not provide an avenue for funding without a voter approved referendum,” according to the district. The issue has reached a tipping point as more firefighters are hired, officials said.

District voters are being asked to authorize the levy of a new tax. If approved, the increase would amount to about $20 for every $100,000 in home value. The owner of a $300,000 home, for example, would pay an extra $60 per year.

Cuba and Shields townships

As in other jurisdictions, an advisory question is on ballots in Cuba and Shields townships asking voters whether Illinois should opt into a federal program to provide students with privately donated funds for various needs.

The Illinois Education Association opposes the measure, calling it a “voucher scheme” that is misleadingly worded to make voters think no public money will be used.

• Daily Herald staff writers Eric Peterson, Rick West and Katlyn Smith contributed to this report.