Election Issues: District 113A Candidates State Position on $20M Referendum

On March 4, Patch published its , a complete guide to the April 5 consolidated election in Lemont. There you'll find voter information, recent election news and complete candidate biographies.

Before Lemont voters head to the polls, Patch wants to give readers an opportunity to compare where candidates for the School Board stand on key issues. We will publish the questions in separate posts over the next week or two, along with responses from all nine candidates.

Where do you stand on the ? Are you voting yes or no, and why?

Yes, I support the referendum and ask all citizens of the district to vote yes. This plan will restore financial stability to the district, end the need for costly high interest short term loans and stop the state government from taking control of the District, which would devastate our community and give state politicians the unlimited power to raise our taxes, with the most recent example being a $750 tax increase in a state-controlled district in Round Lake. It provides the new school board with the resources needed to reduce class sizes and reinstate cut academic programs.

No. According to the current board's financial plan, there should be a surplus of approximately $2 million at the end of this school year on June 30, 2011.

There is no need to add an additional tax burden onto the parents, seniors, or other property taxpayers and business owners in the district if it is not necessary.

The interest could be as high as $1 million over the fiver-year period.

No. We have a Financial Plan to stabilize the district and it is working. The amount of the referendum — $20 million — is much more than the district needs. Furthermore, the threat of a state takeover has been vastly overstated to threaten the parents and voters of the district. The state already stepped in when it mandated that the current Board adopt a strict financial plan, and as long as the Board follows the plan, the state will not take further action.

This has been an agonizing decision for me. Understanding the situation our district is in, it would be unrealistic to deny that more funding is needed. This particular option was chosen because of how quickly the money would be received and not necessarily because it was the best option.

I support this referendum because it is the only option to choose from and because I believe it is wrong for our students to go through another year with over crowded classrooms while the adults bicker over who is more right than the other.

While this is an important issue, it will be decided before a new board is seated. What voters should be asking is what I will do as a board member once the outcome is known. Whether or not the referendum is approved the underlying problems will still need to be addressed.

As a citizen, I will vote for the referendum. I feel that in order for the schools to continue the solid education programs necessary in today’s society, it is vital that we fully fund our children’s education. The fact is that District 113A provided a strong educational experience in the past — you can see it in the high school, and you can see it in the community. Let’s learn from the past, move forward, and do what’s right for our children and our community.

The Board has enacted policies regarding deficit spending and fund balances. Another policy was put in place to ensure that $8 million will be used for cash flow (eliminating the need for tax anticipation warrants) and the remaining $12 million be used to fund teachers and educational programs for at least five years.

With that in mind, as a Board member, I would limit the district’s spending to the resources available. Either way, I will not support a deficit budget.

The referendum to me is not a simple "vote yes" or "vote no" without understanding the reasons behind the vote. One should take into consideration the following:         

1. The limits on funding for public schools — PTELL.

2. The demands imposed to public schools by the state — No Child Left Behind and others.

3. The annual increasing costs.

4. The need for our kids' education to be the best it can for them to succeed in the future.

5. The necessity to make public education affordable for all.

6. The last time a referendum was passed by this community for operating expenses — over 35 years ago.

Based on all the information given, and knowing that I will be fiscally responsible with the funds once elected, I will be voting "Yes."

As a community member, I support the referendum and I will be voting yes. One of the most important things we can provide our children is a quality education and they deserve it now. A successful referendum will restore financial stability and will also be used to hire more teachers, thus reducing class sizes. I am voting yes to support the children of District 113A.

I'm a fiscal conservative and on principle am normally opposed to tax increases. Unfortunately, because the current board has so mismanaged the district's finances, we need an infusion of money.

I have looked at the numbers and $6 to $8 million is all we need. It will eliminate the need to sell tax anticipation warrants and pay interest on them. My plan will allow the restoration of some precious programming, allow the immediate rehiring of teachers, bring our class sizes down to pre-crisis levels, and keep Central School open — all without deficit spending.

I have three kids in the district, and one in preschool. The only way to get necessary funding right now is this $20 million referendum, so I will vote yes.

But I have — and I hope you too have — serious reservations and concerns about giving $20 million more of our hard earned tax dollars to the current board who were resistant for so long to real accountability measures.

I'm committed to not spending above the $8 million I think is necessary to put the district back on sound financial footing. Further, I hope that the current board will sell callable bonds or attach a sinking fund to this bond issue so that unneeded money can be returned to the taxpayers of Lemont.

I do not support another referendum for a tax increase. The past two referendums failed. This board and administration have not proven they are transparent and fiscally responsible. It is wrong to keep asking the taxpayers for more money as a bailout during these tough economic times.

Editor's Note: Each candidate was allowed a maximum 200 words for their response.