Lake Zurich 95's $77.6 million referendum passes

Voters in Lake Zurich School District 95 have approved a $77.6 million bond issue to fund improvements at schools across the district, according to unofficial vote totals Tuesday night.

With all 27 precincts in, 3,139 voters backed the plan, about 68 percent of the total, and 1,499 voters said no. Early votes have not been counted yet.

The money will be used to replace the 89-year-old May Whitney Elementary School building, install air conditioning in five schools and add so-called 21st-century learning facilities to several buildings.

Superintendent Kaine Osburn said the results indicate the school board and school district staff earned the trust of the community.

"This vote shows us that the community trusts us to do what is right for their kids and to invest in the schools wisely for the next generation," Osburn said.

In considering the decision, voters had to weigh the importance of the upgrades versus potential property tax savings.

The bonds will replace a $65 million bond issue approved through referendum in 2000. The 2000 bond issue will be paid off next year.

With the new bond issue, district officials estimate annual taxes will decrease about $14 for every $100,000 of a property's value. There would be a greater savings if voters had rejected the measure - about $118 for every $100,000 in property value.

It will be the most expensive bond issue approved for a Lake County school district in years.

Since 2010, voters have approved six of 12 education-related requests, according to election data on the Lake County clerk's website.

Districts asked for more than the $77.6 million sought by District 95 in only two of those measures. In 2011, Township High School 113 in Highland Park had a $133 million referendum question, and in 2016, North Shore 112, also based in Highland Park, had a $198 million measure. Both were rejected.

During the lead up to the referendum no organized opposition to the bond issue materialized.

A group supporting the referendum was organized by John Alan Sfire, the founder of Lake Zurich-based real developer Fidelity Group. The group was called Future 95 and raised $19,000, according to the state board of elections. DLA Architects, an Itasca-based design firm, donated $10,000 to Future 95.

Lake Zurich resident Martin Filson, one of the most vocal opponents to the referendum, questioned donations Future 95 received from companies that might compete for design and engineering work for the district if voters approve a bond issue.

"That stinks a bit," he said.

Filson said he handed out flyers in his neighborhood urging people to vote "no" so the district will remove projects he sees as nonessential, such as the 21st-century classroom spaces.

Likely the costliest project would be replacing May Whitney, at 100 Church St. The district estimates demolishing the structure and building a new one on the same site will cost around $42.3 million. The new building would be built with air conditioning, 21st-century learning spaces and enhanced security - all things the current building lacks.

The district made a big effort to engage the community.

The district hosted a series of conversations about facilities in the fall and conducted a survey about projects residents wanted. Around 74 percent of respondents said they wanted STEAM labs; 66 percent wanted air conditioning installed at schools that don't have it; and 60 percent supported renovating or replacing May Whitney Elementary.

Osburn said now that the votes are in, district staff will get together and prepare for the capital projects.