Official Suggests Center Cass Tax Foes Destroyed Own Signs

DARIEN, IL – A member of the Center Cass School District 66 board over the weekend accused opponents of a proposed tax increase of destroying their own campaign signs.

The debate over the nearly 20 percent property tax increase is becoming increasingly heated. The referendum is Nov. 8.

Last week, Darien police confirmed they received a report that two signs against the tax hike on a fence on Manning Road were damaged.

As of Monday morning, Deputy Police Chief Jason Norton said in an email that he was unaware of any arrests or charges related to damaged signs.

Still, both sides are accusing the other of responsibility.

Tax increase opponents on the local Nextdoor page have suggested that tax increase supporters vandalized the signs. They have provided no proof.

School board member Brian Liedtke had a response on Nextdoor.

"(S)top destroying your own signs," he told opponents. "It's not a good look, and everybody sees through it."

In another post, Liedtke agreed with another commenter that children of referendum supporters may have vandalized them.

"There are many students very upset about the signs," Liedtke said. "Another theory is a very desperate member opposed to the referendum could be doing it themselves to make it look like supporters are responsible. The point is, nobody knows, and nobody should jump to conclusions."

The tax increase would apply only to the Center Cass part of the property tax bill.