McHenry County Voters: Local Referenda On Your Ballots

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — Voters in McHenry County are lining up for the polls, and will be presented with more options to think about than who will be the next governor or member of congress. Referenda will ask for feedback on public officials' term limits, city projects, tax increases, school district improvements and other important issues.

Here's a breakdown of McHenry County referenda questions on the November ballot:

MCHENRY COUNTY:

• In all McHenry County regions, voters will be asked about term limits for the Office of County Board. Residents will be asked if they think any Office of County Board member who has previously served in the position for twelve cumulative years should be eligible to seek re-election, beginning in 2022.
• Voters will also be asked if any Office of County Board Chairman who has previously served in the position for ten years should be eligible to seek re-election, beginning in 2020.

CITY OF MCHENRY:

• Voters will be asked if the city of McHenry should build an addition to the McHenry Recreation Center that will include an indoor pool, a gymnasium and an outdoor family aquatic park — and issue its bonds in an amount not to exceed $30 million — to construct the improvements. Annually, for twenty years, the increase to the city's portion of a property tax bill would not exceed $1.08 per $1,000 of the "fair cash value" of the taxable property, according to the records of the McHenry County Treasurer.

VILLAGE OF GREENWOOD:

• Voters will be asked of the village should be authorized to levy a new tax for roadway maintenance purposes and to have an additional tax of .25 percent of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property extended for the maintenance.

MCHENRY TOWNSHIP - OBJECTION PENDING:

• The ballot will include a question about whether the Road District of the Township of McHenry should be abolished, and should the rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, obligations, and responsibilities of the district be assumed by the Township of McHenry.

WILLIAM RAINEY HARPER COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT NO. 512:

• Voters will be asked about a proposition to issue $180 million in General Obligation Community College Bonds. The ballot will ask whether the Board of Trustees of William Rainey Harper Community College District No. 512 (Counties of Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry and State of Illinois) should acquire real property, build and equip new buildings, build and equip additions to and alter, equip, repair and renovate existing buildings of the district and issue the bonds of the community college to an amount not to exceed $180 million.

HEBRON TOWNSHIP:

• The ballot will include a question about the extension limitation under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the Hebron Township. Voters will be asked if the limitation should be increased from the lesser of 5 percent or the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index over the prior levy year to 7.31 percent per year for 2018.

1. For the 2018 levy year the approximate amount of the additional tax extendable against property containing a single family residence and having a fair market value at the time of the referendum of $100,000 is estimated to be $4.15.
2. Based upon an average annual percentage increase in the market value of such property of 4.7 percent, the approximate amount of the additional tax extendable against such property for the 2019 levy year is estimated to be $4.35 and for the 2020 levy year is estimated to be $4.55.

COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER 156, MCHENRY AND LAKE COUNTIES, IL:

• Voters will be asked whether the Board of Education of McHenry Community High School District Number 156 (McHenry and Lake Counties) should upgrade the McHenry West High School Campus and the McHenry East High School Campus, which would improve student safety, security and learning environments; construct infrastructure improvements including roofs, ventilation, environmental units, doors, plumbing, electrical improvements, parking lots, walkways and other ADA compliance improvements at both campuses; construct a Science, Technology and Industry Center at West Campus; expand West Campus to add classrooms to replace 26-year-old mobile classrooms and to accommodate additional students; and renovate East Campus classrooms; and issue bonds of the School District to the amount of $44 million for the projects' costs.

MARENGO PARK DISTRICT:
Advisory – Non-Binding Referendum

• The ballot will include a question about re-opening the pool located within Indian Oaks Park of the Marengo Park District, which would require a significant property tax increase to pay the costs of investigating the current state of the pool, repairing and rebuilding the pool and maintaining it in the future. Should the investigation of the current state of the pool be approved, an additional significant property tax increase would be required to pay for the rebuilding, repairing and maintaining of the pool for the future. Voters will be asked if they approve a significant increase to their property taxes to acquire funds not exceeding $150,000 to pay for the investigation of the current state of the pool.

Voting Information

The polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, and close at 7 p.m. Some FAQs:

What if I'm not registered to vote? Is it too late? No, it's not. Illinois is one of a handful of states that allow same-day registration on Election Day. Just take two forms of identification (both must have your name, and one must show your current address) to your voting precinct to register and cast your ballot.
What if I don't have a ride to the polls? Uber and Lyft are offering Election Day deals and potential freebies. Lyft said it's offering 50 percent off rides across the country Tuesday. Visit BuzzFeed to access a Lyft promo code. Uber is working with #VoteTogether and Democracy Works to provide free rides in areas where transportation to the polls is hard to come by as part of its "Uber Drives the Vote" promotion. Uber also is offering $10 off a single ride to the polls on Election Day for the Uber Express Pool, which could mean a free ride depending on how far you have to go. To get the deal, riders must have the most updated version of the Uber app. Then enter the promotional code VOTE2018 in your app. (Tap Menu > Payment > Add Promo Code).
Remember: You cannot vote online in Illinois (or anywhere else in the U.S., for that matter), and anyone who says otherwise is lying.

Know your voting rights
If you're already registered to vote, you do not need to show your ID in order to cast your ballot — you only need to state your name and address. However, there are limited circumstances in which a voter can be asked for identification, including those who are registering on Election Day, and those voting for the first time after registering by mail. But even in those instances, a voter without ID may cast a provisional ballot, according to the ACLU of Illinois.

People with criminal records in Illinois — including felonies — are eligible to vote once they have completed their sentences (but should re-register to vote upon their release). That includes people who are on probation or parole. Those who have been arrested or charged with a crime but not convicted can also vote, including many of those being held in county jail.

More Illinois voting info: Everything To Know About The Illinois 2018 Midterm Elections

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