‘This vote was about taxes’: Stretched voters reject funding requests in Lake County referendums

Pocketbook concerns had a big impact at the ballot box Tuesday in Lake County, where only one of six referendum questions seeking money from voters was approved.

Voters rejected five requests ranging from a countywide 1% sales tax to help pay for school facilities to a library expansion project.

Only voters in Lake Zurich agreed to higher taxes to fund $20.3 million in village-issued bonds to build and equip a new fire station.

Here’s a recap:

Sales tax for schools fails

In the only countywide question on the ballot, voters decisively rejected a proposal to allow a 1% sales tax to help fund schools.

Unofficial results show about 57% of voters opposed the measure.

The question was put on the ballot by the Lake County Regional Office of Education after 23 school districts representing 60% of Lake County’s student population approved resolutions asking it be included.

Proceeds could have been used for building and safety-related improvements — including additions or renovations — school resource officers or mental health professionals. Paying off existing bonds or abating property taxes were other allowable uses.

Regional Superintendent Michael Karner said some estimates showed that $103 million to $122 million would have been generated to for schools if the measure passed.

Feedback from stakeholders showed that pocketbook issues and a lack of information were factors in the defeat, he said Wednesday.

The Lake County Republican Central Committee and the eight-member Barrington Area Council of Governments both opposed the measure citing concerns about widespread rising costs.

Lake Zurich fire station

Lake Zurich voters by a comfortable margin agreed to increase their property taxes to fund a new fire station.

Unofficial totals showed just over 60% voted in favor of issuing $20.3 million in bonds to replace Station 1, 321 S. Buesching Road, with a new building on village-owned property at Route 22 and Old Rand Road.

The owner of a home valued at $400,000 will pay $184 more per year in property taxes.

“It is a critical public safety project,” said Michael Duebner, assistant village manager. “It was clear to anyone that toured the existing station that a new site and station are needed.”

A new facility will cut response times, improve the work environment, safety, training and help with recruitment and retention, fire officials have said.

Vernon library expansion

Good idea, wrong time was the sentiment for the Lincolnshire-based Vernon Area Public Library District in its first request for new funding in more than 30 years.

“We understand that this vote was about taxes, not the community’s love for the library,” Jonathan Passman, president of the Vernon Area Public Library District, said in a statement Wednesday.

The district was seeking to raise taxes to borrow $39.5 million for long-sought improvements. The owner of a home valued at $400,000 would have paid an additional $121 per year in property taxes.

Unofficial totals showed about 53% of voters rejected the request. The district serves about 44,000 residents in Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Vernon Hills and neighboring communities.

“In conversations and comments, residents told us time and again that they love the library, but they are feeling pinched financially,” Passman said.

The library’s plan called for adding about 21,000 square feet to the existing 55,000-square-foot building at 300 Olde Half Day Road, relocating the main entrance and other improvements.

“In the near term, we will prioritize available resources to replace infrastructure that has reached end-of-life and make other safety improvements,” said Library Director Anne Rasmussen.

Other requests

Antioch Township’s request taxes to raise funds to operate parks, the township building and senior services won support from only 15% of voters, according to unofficial totals.

A proposition by the Fox Lake Fire Protection District to create a new tax rate for pension fund purposes was defeated with about 62% against.

A tax hike proposed by the Newport Township Fire Protection District failed with about 57% voting against, according to unofficial results.

mzawislak@dailyherald.com