Suburban voters approve more than $1 billion in school borrowing, but draw the line on some measures

Suburban voters outside Chicago generally bucked a national conservative trend in Tuesday's election by supporting more than a dozen measures to borrow more than $1.1 billion to fund schools, and more for fire stations, park facilities and open land.

Notable school spending plans that appeared on the way to approval in unofficial results include $151 million for Wheaton-Warrenville District 200, $150 million for Mundelein District 120, $89 million for Park Ridge-Niles District 64, $85 million for Mount Prospect District 57, and $75 million for Westmont District 201, $64 million for Barrington District 220, $48 million for Salt Creek District 48 in the Oak Brook area, $30 million for Bloomingdale District 13, and $20 million for Cary District 26.

But the biggest referendum of all was a massive $420 million for Indian Prairie School District 204 in the Naperville-Aurora area. Many of the measures passed with overwhelming support, such as the more than 70% yes vote for 204.

Voters appear to approve $420 million bond issue for Indian Prairie School District 204

Half of the district's buildings are more than 35 years old, and in need of repairs and improvements. The money will pay to renovate Waubonsie Valley and Nequa Valley high schools and two middle schools, and expand grade school instruction on the north side of the district.

"Like a house or any other property, our schools are at the age where they need significant reinvestment, District 204 Chief School Business Officials Matt Shipley said.

In Park Ridge, parents created a website to support District 64's referendum. The group cited 10 reasons to vote yes, including improving safety, academics, accessibility for people with disabilities, saving maintenance costs, and maintaining property values.

Yet the pro-tax feeling was not felt everywhere.

Voters in Glenview School District 34 rejected a measure to increase property taxes, by a 55% to 45% vote. As recently as 2020, residents had approved a $119 million district ballot measure to renovate district school buildings and add full-day kindergarten.

The difference was that while most other school referendums went to one-time construction expenses, the latest Glenview proposal would have been for daily operational expenses like educational programs, transportation and salaries.

District officials said they would have to consider cutting non-mandated programs like music, art, gym and extracurricular activities beginning in 2027, when a budget deficit is expected.

Superintendent Dave Delli said he respected the outcome, but it would force some "difficult" decisions.

Voters also voiced anti-tax sentiment in at least eight south suburbs which have been hit by high property tax assessments – Burnham, Calumet Park, Crestwood, Posen, Riverdale, Robbins, South Chicago Heights and Tinley Park. Residents supported advisory referendums asking Illinois to increase state funding for schools, and thereby lower property taxes.

And in McHenry County, a proposal to increase the tax levy for Conservation District operations was failing narrowly, by less than .2%, as votes were still being counted Thursday.

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Schools weren't the only taxing bodies asking for money. Park districts in Elmhurst, Mount Prospect, Huntley, and LaGrange also got approval to borrow money, as did the Lemont Fire Protection District.

In Elmhurst, $90 million will pay to replace the Wagner Community Center, construct a bandshell, convert a grass field to artificial turf, and build year-round heated restrooms at three parks and along the Illinois Prairie Path.

Elmhurst parks board President Kevin Graf said residents helped plan the projects through meetings and surveys, saying, "We are pleased to be able to deliver their vision."

Mount Prospect will get $46 million for a new pool, and Huntley will raise $18 million to improve its parks and add amenities like tennis and pickleball courts, and creating a new park.

In LaGrange , the park district will get $14 million for new plantings, restrooms, a pergola, and more playground equipment, but not an artificial turf field, which residents criticized before the vote.

Voters in the Lemont Fire Protection District appeared to approve a plan to sell $46 million in bonds to relocate two of the district's fire stations and renovate two others, with the goal of reducing emergency response times.

University Park got approval to create a park district with a levy up to $800,000 in its first fiscal year.

Skokie voters passed term limits for local officials. Kenilworth voters rejected a park district referendum to raise taxes, while Glencoe voters approved home rule and a $15 million park district referendum.

Oak Park voters approved ranked choice voting, in which voters can choose candidates in ranked order of preference in future elections.

And in Thornton, voters approved a referendum calling for a village ordinance allowing and regulating the keeping of backyard chickens.

Samantha Moilanen, Mike Nolan, Doug Graham, and Hank Beckman contributed to this report.