'Yes' votes prevail in Gail Borden library referendum

Voters said "yes" to raising the operating tax rate for Gail Borden Public Library District.

The referendum question received 10,364 "yes" votes, or 63%, and 6,049 "no" votes with all precincts reporting in Cook and Kane counties, according to unofficial results.

Voters were asked to agree to raise the district's operating tax rate at the same time that loans taken out to build the main library are retired.

The "yes" vote meant keeping library's overall tax rate at the current level.

The Elgin-based district plans to use the money for building maintenance, IT and security and to preserve current services and hours of operations. There are also plans to expand the branch that opened in 2016 in South Elgin.

The library will have higher salary costs because of gradual increases to the minimum wage and will need a $700,000 parking lot revamp in a couple of years, improvements to its heating and cooling systems and other tech upgrades.