Geneva Residents Appear To Overwhelmingly Vote 'No' On $60M Referendum: Clerk

GENEVA, IL — Geneva residents appear to have overwhelmingly voted against the city's referendum asking for a $59.4 million public safety plan to construct and equip a new police station.

With all 18 precincts counted, 65.62 percent, or 3,985 people, voted against the referendum, while 34.38 percent, or 2,088 people, were in favor, according to unofficial totals from the Kane County Clerk's Office. The turnout for the referendum was 38.8 percent.

If passed, the referendum would have had a tax impact of about $272 annually for the average Geneva household, Patch reported. The city planned to build a modern police station on city-owned land on South Street, near the Public Works Facility. The current police headquarters frequently floods, has rodents in the walls, and doesn't have adequate space for personnel and equipment.

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A facilities master plan approved by the Geneva City Council in July 2025 identified more than $100 million in needs related to aging infrastructure and space limitations. The issues have become more pressing in recent years, with officials citing a population growth of almost 70 percent since 1980.

Officials said in December that its budget could not accommodate the "significant infrastructure challenges" without additional funding.