'Difficult Choices' After Failed Frankfort Park District Referendum

FRANKFORT, IL — After a failed referendum in the Nov. 8 election, the Frankfort Park District said "difficult choices will be necessary."

The park district had asked voters to raise its portion of property taxes in order to raise additional funds to keep the level of park maintenance and recreational services.

According to unofficial election results, 3,078 people voted yes to the referendum, while 4,832 voted no.

In a news release, the park district board and staff thanked supporters.

"The Park District is aware that voters do not want increased taxes. However, additional funding is necessary to maintain our existing assets. This outcome indicates that voters do not support funding our parks at this time," the park district said in a release.

The park district said it has not had a tax increase in over 30 years, and the current funding level does not provide enough funds to maintain the capital assets the District acquired during the expansion of Frankfort.

According to the park district, there is $5.5 million in capital maintenance projects that are unfunded. Areas that need to be addressed include roof replacements, asphalt resurfacing and playground replacements, along with updating Fort Frankfort.

"We wish the referendum would have gone the other way because under the current funding, the district will have to make difficult choices," Executive Director Gina Hassett said in a release.

The staff and board will be working to evaluate areas of the operating budget that can be reallocated to capital maintenance, the park district said

"The Commissioners have been evaluating ways to fund capital projects and hoped it would not result in reduction of services. However, with increased costs and unfunded mandates such as increased minimum wage, difficult decisions will be necessary," Hassett said.

Funds that will be redirected to capital projects will reduce the frequency of mowing the parks, eliminate weed control and pond maintenance, and reduce or eliminate free community events, the park district said.

Replacement of playgrounds will also be pushed from 20 years to a 25 to 30-year replacement cycle.

"The Board of Commissioners had hoped they would not need to reduce services to fund the maintenance of the capital assets, but it is looking like that might be the course of action," Hassett said.

Hassett said that through the educational campaign, she was surprised to learn that residents didn’t seem to understand the separation between government agencies, realizing the Village of Frankfort does not share revenue with the Park District.

More than once, residents asked if other government entities would share their revenue to help the Park District, Hassett said.

"Although the Village collects revenue in addition to property taxes, they have their own capital projects and expenditures that need to be funded," Hassett said. "The Commissioners are sensitive that Frankfort property owners pay considerable property taxes, the funding that comes to the Park District represents one of the lowest portions on the tax bill."

At this time, recreation programming will not be affected as program fees are increased incrementally to cover direct costs of programs, the park district said.

The park district will communicate changes to the residents as it establishes a plan to fund the maintenance and capital needs of the district.