Voters in several counties in northern Illinois will decide various referenda on Tuesday in addition to selecting candidates for county, state and federal offices. McHenry County heads the list with seven propositions on the county ballot.
Several propositions seek authority to negotiate for electricity rates for residential and small commercial retail customers. Another question in at least two counties is whether a one-percent sales tax should be imposed to benefit school facilities.
McHenry County
The seven propositions in McHenry County range from electrical aggregation authority to issuing bonds to areas seeking improvement. One proposal is that the chairman of the McHenry County Board would not need to be a member of the McHenry County Board. The sample ballot can be found at www.co.mchenry.il.us.
The specific propositions are:
- Shall the chairman of the McHenry County Board be elected at-large, by the voters, for a term of four years and not be required to be a member of the McHenry County Board?
- Shall the Village of Algonquin have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such program?
- Shall alternate bonds (payable from the general fund as the Alternate revenue source) of the Village of Bull Valley, McHenry County, Illinois to the amount of $5,000,000.00 be issued for the purpose of construction, repair, replacement and improvement of streets and roads throughout the Village of Bull Valley?
- Shall the Village of Fox Lake, Lake and McHenry Counties, Illinois, construct and acquire road improvements at various locations throughout the Village, including related curb, gutter, storm sewer, boulevard and sidewalk improvements, and issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of $6,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof, said bonds bearing interest at not to exceed the rate of 5.00% per annum?
- Shall the Board of Education of Johnsburg Community Unit School District Number 12, McHenry County, Illinois, improve the sites of, build and equip additions to and alter, repair and equip school buildings of said School District and issue bonds of said School District to the amount of $41,000,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?
- Shall the Township Board of Nunda Township be allowed to exercise the powers conferred by Article 210: Township Refuse Collection and Disposal, of the Illinois Township Code, 60 ILCS 1-210 et seq. to make contracts with any city, village, or incorporated town or with any person, corporation, or county for more than one year and not more than 15 years i) relating to the composting or recycling of garbage, refuse, and ashes within the unincorporated area of Nunda Township or ii) relating to the collection and final disposition or relating solely to either the collection or the final disposition of garbage, refuse and ashes within the unincorporated area of Nunda Township?
- Shall the Huntley Park District, McHenry and Kane Counties, Illinois, build and equip an indoor, artificial turf recreation facility, purchase park land, maintain, improve and preserve parks and facilities and issue its bonds to the amount of $18,750,000 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?
Winnebago County
There are six issues on the ballot in Winnebago County, including three that overlap into Boone County as well as one for bus service in rural Roscoe Township. Sample ballots are available at winnebago.il.clerkserve.com
The specific propositions are:
- Shall the corporate authorities of the City of Loves Park, Illinois ,be authorized to levy a Municipal Retailers' Occupation Tax and a Municipal Service Occupation Tax, at a rate of one percent(1%), until June 30, 2024 to be used for expenditures on public infrastructure, including but not limited to repairs, maintenance, improvements and reconstruction of roadway, drainage systems, pedestrian and bikeway facilities and water systems?
- Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Levy Limitation Law for WINNEBAGO PARK DISTRICT, Winnebago County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to 50% above the limiting rate for the purpose of levying an additional tax for all corporate purposes, pursuant to Section 5-3 of the Park District Code for levy year 2012 and be equal to 0.18% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2013?
- Should the Roscoe Township Board of Trustees consider contracting for bus services to be used by residents living in rural, unincorporated Roscoe Township, with this service to be, in part, paid for with the property taxes dollars from all properties located in both incorporated and unincorporated Roscoe Township.
- Shall the corporate authorities of the (Village of Roscoe) be authorized to levy a tax at a rate of 1% for expenditures on public infrastructure, or property tax relief?
- Shall the extension limitation under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for Kinnikinnick Community Consolidated School District No. 131, Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois, be increased from the lesser of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index over the prior levy year to 12.5% per year for 2014 and 2015?
- Shall the extension limitation under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the North Suburban Public Library District, Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois, be increased from the lesser of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index over the prior levy year to 20.5% for the 2014 levy year?
LaSalle County
LaSalle County has six propositions on the ballot. Several could affect several fire protection districts in the county. Also on the ballot is a proposition to construct a municipal swimming pool in Peru and one to allow mining within the town of Waltham. The sample ballot can be found at www.lasallecounty.org.
The specific propositions are:
- Shall the Wallace Fire Protection District levy a special tax at a rate not to exceed .40% of the value of all taxable property within the district as equalized or assessed by the department of revenue for the purpose of providing an ambulance service?
- Shall the Marseilles Fire Protection District levy a special tax at a rate not to exceed .40% of the value of all taxable property within the district as equalized or assessed by the department of revenue for the purpose of providing an ambulance service?
- Shall the City of Peru construct and operate a municipal swimming pool funded by a real estate property tax imposed upon all taxable real estate within the City of Peru?
- Shall Peru restrict the number of aldermen to six, with one alderman representing each ward, plus additional two aldermen to be elected at large?
- Shall Toluca Fire Protection District be consolidated with Rutland Fire Protection District to organize Toluca-Rutland Fire Protection District, and shall the maximum allowable tax rate for Toluca-Rutland Fire Protection District be set at .75% of the value of all taxable property within Toluca-Rutland Fire Protection District as equalized or assessed by the department of revenue?
- Should mining be allowed within the boundaries of Waltham Township?
Stephenson County
Voters in Stephenson County will decide six propositions. Florence, Kent, Rock Grove, Ridott, and the Village of Orangeville will vote on electrical aggregation. The county also will pursue approval of a one-percent sales tax to benefit school facilities. The sample ballot can be found at www.co.stephenson.il.us.
The specific propositions are:
- Shall the [above-mentioned communities] have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such program?
- Shall a retailers' occupation tax and a service occupation tax (commonly referred to as a "sales tax") be imposed in The County of Stephenson, Illinois, at a rate of 1% to be used exclusively for school facility purposes?
Boone County
Boone County has four referenda, including three for portions of jurisdictions that overlap the Boone County line. Other issues include adopting a sales tax and electrical aggregation in Flora Township. The sample ballot can be found at www.boonecountyil.org.
The specific propositions are:
- Shall the Township of Flora have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such program?
- Shall the corporate authorities of the City of Loves Park, Illinois, be authorized to levy a Municipal Retailers' Occupation Tax and a Municipal Service Occupation Tax, at a rate of one percent (1%), until June 30, 2024 to be used for expenditures on public infrastructure, including but not limited to repairs, maintenance, improvements and reconstruction of roadway, drainage systems, pedestrian and bikeway facilities and water systems?
- Shall the extension limitation under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for Kinnikinnick Community Consolidated School District No. 131, Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois, be increased from the lesser of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index over the prior levy year to 12.5% per year for 2014 and 2015?
- Shall the extension limitation under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the North Suburban Public Library District, Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois, be increased from the lesser of 5% or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index over the prior levy year to 20.5% for the 2014 levy year?
Bureau County
Bureau County voters will decide four propositions. One proposition is on the fate of Cherry Grade School; others deal with sales and property taxes. The sample ballot can be found at www.bureaucountyclerk.com.
The specific propositions are:
- Shall the corporate authorities of the City of Spring Valley be authorized to levy an additional Retailer’s Occupation tax at a rate of .5% for expenditures for expenditures on municipal operations, expenditures on public infrastructure, or other property tax relief?
- Shall the Village of Arlington, Bureau County, Illinois, be authorized, on a permanent basis, to levy annually for general corporate purposes a tax not more than .4375% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein extended, exclusive of the amount levied for the payment of bonded indebtedness, or interest thereon, and exclusive of taxes authorized by law which by their terms provide that those taxes shall be in addition to taxes for general purposes?
- Shall the Board of Education of Cherry Grade School District No. 92, Bureau County, Illinois, be authorized to deactivate the Cherry Grade School facility and to send pupils in the Cherry Grade School facility from Grades kindergarten through 8 to Dimmick Community Consolidated School District No. 175, LaSalle County?
- Shall the maximum allowable tax rate for the Tiskilwa Rural Fire Protection District be increased from .30% to .40% of the valuable of all taxable property within the District as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue?
Kendall County
Kendall County is among the counties seeking approval for electrical aggregation. The Plainfield Park District has placed three questions on the ballot, including one on considering and indoor recreational facility. The sample ballot can be found at www.co.kendall.il.us.
The specific propositions are:
- Shall the County of Kendall have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such a program?
- Should the use of the Plainfield Township Park District’s dog parks be regulated by permit?
- Should the Plainfield Township Park District investigate the purchase or construction of an indoor recreational facility?
- Should the Plainfield Township Park District impose term limits on the members of its park board so that they may serve no more than two six-year terms?
DeKalb County
Four referenda on the DeKalb County ballot will seek approval for electrical aggregation in Cortland, Kingston, Sycamore and Victor. Sample ballot information is available at dekalb.il.electionconsole.com/voter-lookup.php
The specific propositions are:
- Shall the [before mentioned communities] have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such program?
Carroll County
One of two referenda on the Carroll County ballot is a proposal for a one-percent sales tax to benefit school facilities. The other seeks approval for a property-tax hike in Fairhaven Township for repairs and construction. The sample ballot can be found at www.carroll-county.net.
The specific propositions are:
- Shall a retailers' occupation tax and a service occupation tax (commonly referred to as a "sales tax") be imposed in The County of Carroll, Illinois, at a rate of 1% to be used exclusively for school facility purposes?
- Shall the present maximum rate of .05% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue on the taxable property of Fairhaven Township for the purpose of constructing or repairing bridges, culverts, drainage structures or grade separations, including approaches thereto, at the joint expense with Carroll County, Illinois, be increased to a maximum rate of .15% on such taxable property for a period not to exceed ten years?
Jo Daviess County
Two fairly narrow propositions are on the Jo Daviess County ballot. One is a property-tax question to maintain roads and bridges in Stockton Township; the other seeks approval for renovations to the East Dubuque Public Library. The sample ballot can be found at www.jodaviess.org.
The specific propositions are:
- Shall the limiting rate under the property tax extension limitation law for Stockton Township Road District, Jo Daviess County, Illinois be increased by an additional amount equal to .1000% above the limiting rate for the purpose of road and bridge maintenance for levy year 2013 and be equal to .4600% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2013.
- Shall the bonds of East Dubuque Public Library District, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, in the amount of $1,330,000 be issued for the purpose of building an addition to and repairing, remodeling and improving the existing East Dubuque Public Library Building (including to provide a meeting room therein), furnishing necessary equipment therefor and refinancing certain debt incurred to purchase and improve a building for library purposes?
Ogle County
The lone proposition on the Ogle County ballot proposes a sales tax for the Village of Stillman Valley to improve public infrastructure. The sample ballot can be found at www.oglecounty.org.
The specific proposition is:
- Shall the Village of Stillman Valley, Illinois, for expenditure on Public Infrastructure Improvements impose a Sales Tax of one (1%) of gross receipts on persons engaged in the business of selling or transferring personal property other than food, medicine, and titled property, at retail or incidental to sale of service, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8-11-1.3 and 8-11-1.4 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
Putnam County
Putnam County has only a proposition to increase the property tax for the Tiskilwa Rural Fire Protection District. The specific proposition is:
- Shall the maximum allowable tax rate for the Tiskilwa Rural Fire Protection District be increased from .30% to .40% of the value of all taxable property within the District as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue?