I bought my house in 1985, moved in the day the racetrack burned down. I am writing to express my opinion that people should vote “no” on the park district referendum. This is why:

Ÿ We are in a recession. Our state and our country are drowning in debt. We need another $48 million in debt like a submarine needs a screen door.

Ÿ In my opinion, the park district has been misleading the public. AHPD claims a “yes” vote will cost the average homeowner $36 more per year for 25 years. What their literature doesn’t say is that taxes are supposed to go down by about $60 per year when the swimming pools bonds are paid off. A “yes” vote will mean at least $96 to $118 per year higher taxes for the average house than they would be if you voted “no.”

Ÿ In my opinion, our park district has so much money they waste it. I received an anonymous letter which claims an employee took a park district vehicle for personal vacation to Florida. I sent a copy to Steve Scholten, the AHPD executive director, who admitted it happened.

Later, the AHPD lawyer sent a letter explaining the policy: These “directors” are always on call and they are required by AHPD Section 6.05 to “drive a district vehicle between home and work each day. This provides the district a method of storing the vehicles overnight as well as the ability to contact key persons at all times. These vehicles may be used for out of state travel.”

How much would be saved if AHPD issued pagers or cellphones instead?

Therefore I urge a “no” vote on the park district referendum.

Art Ellingsen

Arlington Heights