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Voters pass school expansion referendums in Unit 5
(The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Feb. 6--NORMAL -- Voters gave Normal-based Unit 5 school district a solid go-ahead to build new schools and renovate existing schools, but only barely approved a tax increase to cover extra operating expenses.
The mood of about 30 supporters of Unit 5's referendum stayed optimistic Tuesday night as they watched results come in at Sugar Creek Elementary School. In a gym decorated with balloons in the district's colors of orange and black, the activists watched results on a big projection screen or huddled around a computer.
The referendum to issue $96.7 million in building bonds passed 11,796 to 8,351, and the proposal to raise property taxes by 10 cents per $100 equalized assessed valuation passed 10,402 to 9,888.
"We're very glad and happy with the outcome. It reflects the community's value of a strong education system," said Carl Tiechman, co-chairman of the Citizens for Unit 5, from the poll-watching party. "It keeps children first in our community.
"It will provide teachers and students with the necessary resources to maintain the excellent school system," he said.
The results are close to what an initial survey suggested, said Superintendent Gary Niehaus. "It shows we've done a good job getting information out to voters," he said.
At the watch party, members of the Citizens for Unit 5 campaign were honored and recognized for their efforts, he said.
"They ran a great campaign. It was well-organized," he said.
Gary N. Stevens of Bloomington headed an informal group called Citizens for Excellence in Education that opposed the tax increase. The group of 10 to 20 members formed about 10 days ago and raised money to buy radio advertisements opposing the tax increase, he said.
"This is another time voters decided they want more taxes, and they think it's worth it," he said, promising to continue to fight against tax increases again.
Stevens couldn't vote because he lives in Bloomington District 87, not Unit 5.
"It's an unpopular position to be against something that's seems a good cause," he said.
No organized opposition arose in Unit 5 during the run-up to the vote.
With the passage of both referendums, taxpayers will see the first tax increase on July 2009 bills. A family owning a $200,000 home will pay $170 more on their Unit 5 property tax bill, which is about $2,742 today.
The $96.7 million construction referendum was put on the ballot to address the growing enrollment in Unit 5. The Normal-based district has about 12,500 students today and continues to grow at a rate of about 300 students a year, Niehaus said.
The other goal was to upgrade technology and security at existing schools to the level of the new schools.
Voters OK'd building two new elementary schools and a middle school, expanding Sugar Creek Elementary School, renovating existing eight schools and installing security and technology improvements to 15 schools.
The eight schools to be renovated are Carlock, Hudson, Towanda, Brigham, Fairview, Glenn, Oakdale and Colene Hoose elementary schools. These renovations, including new doors and windows, storage and computer interactive Smart board technology, will begin this summer.
New elementary schools and the expansion of Sugar Creek Elementary School will be completed in fall 2010. The new middle school will open in fall 2111.
Sugar Creek Elementary School will double its capacity, adding classrooms and amenities for 288 more students. Traffic safety and access will also be targeted.
The cost of the building and renovations adds $114 a year for the owner of a $200,000 house.
The second question called for raising the education fund property tax rate 10 cents per $100 equalized assessed valuation, to $2.72 per $100 EAV. That adds $56 a year to that homeowner's tax bill.
That money will be used for operating expenses for the new buildings including adding new teachers.
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Unit 5
Issue $96.7 million in building bonds?
McLean and Woodford counties
Yes...12,049
No...8,543
Increase educational tax rate to 2.27 percent from 2.262?
McLean and Woodford counties
Yes...10,625
No...10,118
To see more of The Pantagraph, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pantagraph.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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