'Selfish Tendencies' Among Center Cass Voters?

DARIEN, IL – A board member for Center Cass School District 66 on Wednesday blamed "selfish tendencies" among those who voted against a tax hike proposal in Tuesday's election.

Member Brian Liedtke took his frustrations to the NextDoor social media website. That has been where the debate over the tax increase has been raging for weeks.

As of Wednesday morning, 2,859 voters rejected the nearly 20 percent hike in the district's part of the property tax bill, while 2,850 were in favor. That's a margin of nine votes. It could change if more ballots come in.

Liedtke said he reviewed tax increase referendums in Cass District 63 and Downers Grove District 58 on Tuesday. In District 63, a bare majority of voters approved a tax increase, while more than two-thirds supported one in District 58.

"There are people out there who value education and community," Liedtke said on NextDoor. "Unfortunately, we appear to live in a pocket where, it's become clear, it's not about distrust of the school district, that's just an excuse to hide one's own selfish tendencies to protect themselves, only to have complete disregard to how much that thinking may hurt teachers, students or families."

He said the voters' apparent rejection does not make the district's problems go away.

"(I)t only exacerbates them and becomes more expensive to solve," Liedtke said.

Darien resident Steve Shanks said the effort for a tax increase is down, but not out.

"As long as there is breath left in this body, I will continue to fight for the educational future of District 66's children," Shanks said.

He noted the referendum was still too close to call.

"But it shouldn't be this close," he said. "We will make and shape this community with a better vision for the future of our children and everyone who lives in this district."

On Monday, Shanks spoke at a Darien City Council meeting to criticize an alderman who opposed the tax increase.

Patch looked at where the tax measure showed strength in the district.