I have some comments on the RB construction referendum scheduled for March 21.
Part of the referendum request is for rebuilding academic facilities. Previous school boards from long ago have all dealt with Illinois’ state-mandated life safety demands and have routinely approved building repairs, such as deepening the swimming pool, replacing windows, replacing roofs, repairing and replacing boilers, etc.
Sometimes these needs do require more new than renovation or repair, but not many requests approach $60 million in cost.
But a large part of the request seems to be a wish list, mostly for athletics (as opposed to physical education), including an additional gym, an inside elevated running track, a new swimming pool, artificial turf for the football field, a parking garage and/or similar desires.
Additionally, Elmhurt-York High School, in a unit district, has been cited favorably and has completed an $80 million, two-year construction program similar to that proposed for RB, but on a much larger site.
That school board is responding to a lawsuit about the noise from the air-conditioning unit affecting nearby residences and is also submitting referendum proposals to their voters for tax-rate increases in both the building fund and education fund.
I have noted a news item that an additional tax-rate increase will be needed at RB if the construction referendum is passed and after construction is completed.
I understand that the RB referendum to be voted on also includes a phrase allowing the school board to purchase land. The present site is pretty much land-locked (causing difficulty in any construction) except to the west. Is the board considering land purchase which has not yet been publicly discussed? Additionally, there have been quite different estimates of the annual cost to the taxpayer. Can’t this topic be resolved? …
A good school system is important for maintaining home values in a community. However, at some point, high tax rates and high property taxes make residences less marketable or require a long time to sell and cause home values to decrease.
I personally feel we are at that point, because there are all types of efforts to control, reduce or evade these taxes via tax caps, frozen assessments for seniors, increased tax appeals by both residents and businesses and TIF districts where these are inappropriate.
When local property taxes have become a burden, then a school board wish list isn’t justified. If a bond referendum will trigger later tax-rate increases, then this should be fully discussed.When there are unanswered questions about land purchase or the amount taxes will increase on a $60 million bond issue, it should not be affirmed.
I intend to vote against the RB referendum on Tuesday, March 21.
James L. Keen
Riverside
James L. Keen is a former District 208 board member.