No argument on amount of park district tax hike

The Feb. 20 article on the Arlington Heights Park District referendum states that we “argue” that the cost of the referendum is grossly understated.

We are not arguing. There is only one way to calculate the cost to taxpayers. That is simply to compare what the taxpayer will pay with the $48 million in bonds and what they will pay without these bonds.

The park district’s last tax levy was about $14 million. The cost of the new bonds would be about $3.4 million. This would be about a 24 percent increase in taxes. So if the portion of your taxes for the park district is $400, then the increase would be $96.

The amount of new property coming into the park district, the payoff of old bonds, and other factors affecting future taxes are irrelevant to calculating the cost of the new bonds. Those other things are going to happen regardless of whether the new bonds are issued.

For the park district to claim the cost is only $36 is grossly wrong and is an attempt to influence the vote using taxpayers’ money. They should be held accountable for doing it. If anyone can show me where I am wrong, please call me.

Roland Ley

Arlington Heights