Referendum Asking Voters Whether City Should Borrow $30.1 Million for New Library to Appear on November Ballot

The Crystal Lake City Council on Tuesday voted 7-0 in favor of placing an advisory referendum on the November ballot, which will ask voters whether the city should borrow 30.1 million to build a new 75,000-square-foot library, the Northwest Herald reports.

The question that will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot is non-binding but the votes could give direction to the city council on whether to borrow the money to build the library, according to the article.

• Subscribe to Patch Email Alerts, Join Facebook Pages

The advisory referendum will appear on the ballot with the following wording:

"Shall bonds in the amount of $30,100,000 be issued by the City of Crystal Lake, McHenry County, Illinois, on behalf of the Crystal Lake Public Library, for the purpose of constructing a replacement library building adjacent to the existing library and acquiring necessary furnishings and equipment, which amounts to an estimated increase of$132 per year for a $200,000 home?"

The Crystal Lake Library Board of Trustees on June 29 recommended the city council approve the advisory referendum following a series of community engagement sessions, according to city documents.

The new library would be built adjacent to the current library location at 126 W. Paddock Street, according to city documents. Library officials have contended a new library is needed since the current facility is aging and lacks adequate space.

More via the Northwest Herald