The Illinois Association of School Boards
http://www.iasb.com/elections/finance.cfm
Bond Issues and Rate Increases - Recent Elections
School finance referenda did not fare well in the April 7 general election, particularly in regard to bond issues.
To compare that April election's results with previous election results going back to 1989, click on the following links:
Only one of the nine school bond proposals on the April 2009 ballot was approved. It was given a thumbs up by voters in Belle Valley District 119, Belleville, on a vote of 489 yes to 322 no.
Meanwhile, four of the seven tax increase proposals put forward by school districts were adopted by voters. Results show referenda passing in AlWood CUSD 225,Avoca District 37; CCSD 180, Burr Ridge; and New Holland-Middletown District 88.
But there were just two countywide sales tax propositions approved in support of schools in April 2009. The winning proposals were in Champaign County and Jo Daviess County. Ten other countywide sales tax propositions to support school districts were voted down.
Voters adopted just one of two school district consolidation proposals on the ballot. Approved was a proposal to combine Girard CUSD 3 with Virden CUSD 4.
The recent trend in school district finance referendums is clearly downward, with fewer school tax rate increase and bond issue referenda being proposed by school boards. Thus, for example, the number of school tax rate elections on the April ballot dwindled from 61 in 2005 to 27 in 2007, and the total tumbled down to just two in 2009.
The recent trend has also been downward in terms of referendum success, particularly with regard to school bond issues. For example, building bond elections in 2008 produced success rates of 72 percent and 50 percent, respectively, but such elections in 2009 produced success rates of 0 percent and 13 percent.
Experts say the nation's current economic recession could be to blame for at least some of the current downturn in referendum propositions and their success rates.
Printed: 09/09/10