Endorsements: Yes to expand Wauconda community center
Asking voters to pay more in taxes is always a tough sell, but sometimes residents have to dig a little deeper to maintain - or improve - the services they expect. The Wauconda Park District's call for a $4.75 million expansion of the community center is one such example.
In a referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot, the park district is proposing a 10,000-square-foot addition that would nearly double the size of the 21-year-old Wauconda Community Center. Why now? It all comes down to numbers. Since the center was built, Wauconda's population has grown from fewer than 7,000 people to more than 13,600. And activity at the center has jumped substantially as well, with fitness memberships and class offerings on the rise.
If voters agree with the plan, the owner of a house with an average value of $223,500 would pay an additional $72 in annual property taxes. The net increase from the current rate, however, which includes the cost of the original loan that will be paid off in December, would be less than $39 a year, according to officials.
We think it's worth it, and the increasing demands on Wauconda's recreation programs shows residents do, too. Fitness is important, and so is preserving - and promoting - recreation close to home. We recommend voting yes.