Community Unit School District 300 has been working to get the word out about the $355.5 million referendum on the Nov. 3 ballot to fund a new career and technical education center and 20 proposed security-related capital projects.
But there is opposition to plan from those who believe residents are already paying enough in taxes.
Each project the district is proposing is in response to a need, Superintendent Martina Smith said told those who attended a community meeting this week at Westfield Community School in Algonquin. It was one of several held by the district, with another set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, at Hampshire Middle School.
If the measure facing District 300 voters in Kane, McHenry, Cook and portions of DeKalb counties is approved, the owner of a home valued at $400,000 would pay an estimated $8.41 in additional taxes a month or about $101 for the year, district data said.
The referendum would authorize the district to sell bonds that would be repaid over 25 years, Chief Financial Officer Frank Williams said. Officials also plan to use $87 million from a 2006 bond sale, which would be refinanced for another four years.
If the referendum fails, several “projects would not move forward,” Smith said. However, enrollment is expected to grow so some schools run the risk of becoming overcrowded and maintenance of aging buildings will be delayed, she said.
D300 plans to do safety and security enhancements regardless of whether the measure passes but it’s possible other projects would be eliminated, Smith said.
In response to a question raised by an audience member about options the district had beyond the referendum, she said, “There were multiple options presented from the community engagement. The board researched and made the … decision they thought was (best) for kids.”
The district’s priorities D300 are taking care of its schools, keeping schools safe and protecting its investment, Smith said. On its d300.org website, the district has posted information about the projects it plans to undertake if the referendum is approved.
But there is opposition to its passage. “Had enough? Vote no on the District 300 Tax Referendum” signs have been popping up in different communities, some of which were funded by Algonquin Township Republicans.
The organization made the decision to oppose the measure because “people are just tired of getting taxed left and right,” Chairman Bruce Johnson said. They’ve been passing out signs, providing information in newsletters and doing social media posts.
“We are not opposed to student safety at all, but $355.5 million seems quite out of line,” Johnson said.
The Kane County Republican party is also opposed, Johnson said.
“Everybody is getting squeezed right now,” Johnson said. “We’d all like brand-new schools and a training building, but we have to put food on our tables. We have not seen any effort by D300 to reduce its budget.”
District officials recently unveiled the tentative 2027-28 budget that cans for $437 million in spending but only $414 million in revenues, resulting in a $22.9 million deficit that the district plans to cover with money it has in reserves.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The (Elgin) Courier-News).
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