DuPage ballots filled with tax requests for schools, fire districts

DuPage County voters in Tuesday's election will determine the outcome of eight tax increase requests from schools and fire districts.

Here's a look at some of the major referendum questions on the ballot:

School districts

Itasca Elementary District 10 seeks voter permission to borrow $26.98 million for school construction projects. The district is proposing to issue bonds and pay back the debt with a property tax increase.

The funding would pay for new science labs, front entrance security, mechanical, electrical and plumbing improvements and an addition to Raymond Benson Primary.

The district estimates the tax increase would cost the owner of a $300,000 home - the average in Itasca - about $324 in additional property taxes annually.

Winfield Elementary District 34 is pushing for voter approval of a $4.7 million borrowing plan for projects at two aging schools.

The financing would allow the district to install a new roof and gymnasium floor at Winfield Central, replace windows at Winfield Primary and update security and ventilation systems at both schools.

If voters approve the request, the district would issue new bonds to replace expiring debt.

The school board has pledged to abate $940,000 in property taxes that would otherwise be collected to pay off the current bond issue.

With the abatement, the school district's portion of the property tax bill for the owner of a $270,000 home would decrease by about $116. If the measure fails, the tax bill for that homeowner would drop by roughly $540 after the retirement of the existing debt.

Fire districts

The Bensenville Fire Protection District is asking voters for $1.15 million in additional property taxes to repair deteriorating stations, restore manpower and shore up finances.

The district has implemented a series of cost-saving measures, but seeks funding to replace leaking roofs and staff a fire engine that was taken out of service.

The request is the first on the ballot since voters approved the transition from a village fire department to a fire protection district 14 years ago.

Bensenville fire officials say the increase would cost the owner of a $200,000 house about $126 more a year in property taxes.

The Winfield Fire Protection District is seeking a property tax to occupy a shuttered station.

If it passes, the proposal would generate roughly $2.2 million a year to allow the district to hire personnel for the station along Winfield Road near Roosevelt Road.

From the downtown station to the south side of the 13-square-mile district, fire officials say they can't meet response time standards set by the National Fire Protection Association, but by reopening the second station they could.

The owner of a $300,000 house, who pays $363 a year in property taxes to the district, would see that amount increase to $672.

Elsewhere

Two months after federal authorities charged Bloomingdale Township Highway Commissioner Robert Czernek with pocketing more than $280,000 in kickbacks, voters will decide if they want the road district abolished and its duties absorbed by the township.

Township officials have said they put the binding question on the ballot because the highway department is an independent unit of government with an elected highway commissioner who operates with little oversight from the township board.

Voters in Carol Stream will consider whether to change the village clerk from an elected to an appointed position.

A West Chicago Park District proposal would reduce the size of its board from seven to five commissioners, leaving one board seat up for election in April.

Glen Ellyn and Lombard will pose advisory questions on recreational marijuana sales and video gambling, respectively.