Taxes a driving issue in Schaumburg Twp. library election

At least four candidates are planning to file this week for the three available seats on the Schaumburg Township District Library board, and the proposed tax hike may likely be the leading campaign issue.

Longtime Trustee Debby Miller and recent appointee Nicholas Scipione have said they are running, as are former library Trustee Richard Hetzer and Julie Wroblewski-Bosshart. All the seats are 4-year terms.

The third incumbent, Adam Sesso, said increasing job commitments led to his decision not to run for re-election.

Filing opens today in most suburban governments for the April 5 consolidated election. Candidates for mayor, village boards and city councils, school boards, library boards, fire districts and park districts will file petitions. Filing will close at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20.

The Schaumburg Township District Library, the largest in the Northwest suburbs, is preparing a tax referendum for the April ballot, but not every candidate will be on board.

“We really don't need another tax hike or a continuing tax hike from the library,” Hetzer said. “It's irresponsible.”

Hetzer served half a term on the library board before he resigned in 2007 to be a full-time caregiver for his critically ill wife, who died six months later.

Hetzer said he wants to continue the reforms he started during his prior term, like requiring criminal background checks of new library hires to protect the children.

But looking forward, he said, it's financial issues he's most concerned about.

Wroblewski-Bosshart, the other challenger, has a different view. A certified public accountant who's raising three grade school-aged children, she said most residents who attended recent meetings on the proposed referendum were in favor of it.

“I think we need to preserve the library for the future,” Wroblewski-Bosshart said.

She's particularly encouraged that the referendum measure, although not yet finalized, would raise operating funds without increasing and possibly decreasing current taxes.

The 15-year loan that built the current library in Schaumburg is about paid off, and taxes will no longer be collected annually for it. Current trustees, however, say the money is needed for operations and have discussed replacing the expiring tax with one of an equal or even lower rate.

The language of the referendum will be finalized Dec. 20.

Wroblewski-Bosshart, daughter of Schaumburg Township Supervisor Mary Wroblewski, said she wants to represent young families on the board as well as bring her financial background to discussions.

“There are some people on the board with finance backgrounds, but I don't know how long they're going to continue on the board,” she said.

Miller, meanwhile, has served on the board continuously since the early 1970s except for 2005-2006. She believes her experience can help guide the library's future course.

“We have a lot of important decisions to be made on the board, and I think I can contribute,” Miller said.

As a current trustee, she was adamant that the referendum measure being considered right now would not raise taxes.

Scipione, a science teacher at Glenbard South High School, was appointed to the board in November 2009 to fill the vacancy created by Marilyn Froehlich's resignation.

He previously worked for the library as a staff member for 10 years and believes his experience as a library employee and trustee will be of use in future policy decisions.

“Trustees have been doing a phenomenal job for the past 40 years keeping the library running well,” Scipione said, saying he would support a referendum if it does not increase the current tax rate.

Sesso, the departing trustee, said he switched jobs about a year ago from one in construction to becoming a manufacturer's representative.

“Looking forward, it's not going to be as easy to fulfill my commitments to the board,” Sesso said. “But it's been a great four years. It was definitely a learning experience. I hope to serve again on a public board in the future.”