The Examiner U-46 News Feed

Referendum to decide if U-46 issues new bonds

By Seth Hancock
  School District U-46 will seek public support to add new debt as the Board of Education voted 6-0, board member Veronica Noland was absent, to place a $179.6 million bond referendum question on the April 2023 ballot at a special meeting on Monday, Dec. 19.
  It is part of recommendations with a total cost of $310 to $380 million, paid through bonds and reserves, presented by a committee called Unite U-46 at the Board of Education meeting on Monday, Dec. 12.
  Presenting were Dana Wojnarowski and Chanda Schwartz who were “community chairs” of public meetings that began in April.
  The district claims it can add new debt without affecting property tax rates reserved for debt services, the presenters said.
  “During our course of study, we learned that U-46 can issue bonds for facility updates without changing what homeowners pay towards debt in their property bills,” Schwartz said. “When a school district pays off existing bonds, new bonds can be issued without increasing the debt portion of their tax levy.”
  Schwartz added: “While there is no guarantee that taxes related to inflation for the school district or other taxing bonds, like the City of Elgin as an example, won’t increase, taxes related to bond debt will not increase under this plan.”
  However, the presenters admitted if the referendum fails, property tax bills will decline as current debt is paid off.
  A survey was used as part of the Unite U-46 committee which Wojnarowski said showed “participants rated our schools higher than those across the state.”
  The data presented showed that slightly more survey participants in U-46 graded the district an “A” or “B” than survey takers in other districts, but more U-46 participants also graded the district a “D” or “F” as well. More participants gave U-46 an “F,” around 12 percent, compared to an “A,” around 8 percent.  
  As far as the recommendations, the goal is to add another $10 million annually to the budget for maintenance as well as updating elementary buildings for more preschool space and moving to a sixth through eighth grade middle school model.
  The plan includes rebuilding five elementary schools (Elgin’s Lowrie, McKinley and Century Oaks; Streamwood’s Glenbrook; Hanover Park’s Parkwood) and updating Elgin’s Washington Elementary School. It also includes closing Streamwood’s Hanover Countryside Elementary School and the Illinois Park and More at 4 Early Childhood centers.