Joliet Tax Hike 2019: Joliet Park District Seeks Voter Support

JOLIET, IL - The Joliet Park District is banking on a low turnout during the April 2 consolidated local elections in hopes of passing a major property tax increase to generate millions of dollars in new revenue for park district coffers. Last November, voter turnout around Will County was strong thanks to several key election races in Will County government, including sheriff, county clerk, two circuit court judges and several county board members as well as Illinois governor.

However, Joliet Park District officials waited on the sidelines until after the big election was over to announce plans to move forward with a large tax increase proposal for this spring.

The measure will be on the April 2 ballot. It remains to be seen whether people around Joliet will be energized to vote. The biggest local election in Joliet is for mayor, but nobody is challenging incumbent Bob O'Dekirk, so he is running unopposed. All five District seats on the Joliet City Council are contested, however. There's also several local races for Joliet Township District 204 school board seats as well as openings on the Joliet Park Board.

The last time the Joliet Park District went before the voters for a tax increase was in 2014, but that was a multi-million dollar construction project, seeking funds to build the Nowell Park Recreational Center off Mills Road.

The Nowell Park facility cost $7.7 million to build, but it garnered overwhelming support, 70 percent voter support of the project. The new facility opened late last year.

Meanwhile, Joliet Park District officials have put out a question and answer leaflet to provide Joliet voters with information on why park district officials believe the tax increase is necessary. The following information is from the handout.

What are the key benefits of the funding proposal?

Joliet Park District answer: "There are many anticipated benefits of the new funding proposal, including extending the life of the Park District's existing parks and facilities, improving safety and security districtwide, enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities, reducing costly emergency repairs, improving energy efficiency, protecting district programming and strengthening property values."

Why now? What is the urgency?

Joliet Park District answer: "Borrowing and construction costs continue to rise. The longer the Park District waits, the more it will cost to improve our local parks and recreation facilities. Furthermore, the Park District continues to draw down reserves to address rising operations and maintenance costs. This calendar year, the District will draw down its reserves by an estimated $321,012. And without additional funding, it is estimated that the District's reserves will need to be drawn down by $664,576 in 2019 and a total of $984,014 by 2020. This is unsustainable."

What is the tax impact of the new funding proposal?

Joliet Park District answer: The estimated monthly tax impact of the proposed limiting rate increase of 0.2558 is $7.10 per $100,000 of a home's market value, as determined by the county assessor. This estimated tax impact does not factor in the Homeowner Exemption or the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption, both of which would lower the tax impact.

Based on the information provided above, Joliet Patch went ahead and calculated the proposed tax increase for Joliet residents and came up with the following estimates:

Does the City of Joliet provide funding to the Joliet Park District?

Joliet Park District answer: "The Park District receives no revenue from the City of Joliet."

What parks and facilities would be addressed with proceeds from the new funding proposal?

(No specifics were listed by the park district in terms of approximate costs and improvements.)

• Akin Park
• Andrew B. Barber Park
• ATI Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium
• Bird Haven Greenhouse & Conservatory
• Cedar Creek Park
• College Park
• Cumberland South 40 Park
• Cumberland South Park
• Desmond Park
• Eagle Ridge Park
• Fall Creek
• Forest Play Lot
• Freedom Park
• Hampton Glen
• Harlow Lockwood Softball Fields
• Hartman Recreation Center
• Highland Park
• Inwood Athletic Club
• Inwood Golf Course
• Inwood Ice Arena
• Inwood Park
• Inwood Soccer Complex* Jennifer Ann Voots Playground
• John Leach Park
• Joliet Memorial Stadium
• Kearney Glen
• Kolar Park
• Lakewood Prairie
• Liberty Park
• Longleat Park
• Multi-Purpose Center
• Northfield Park
• Nowell Park
• Organic Community Garden
• Parkwood
• Pheasant Landing
• Pilcher Park Nature Center
• Preservation Park
• Richard Jachinowski Park
• Richard Tezak Park
• Ridgewood Park
• Sable Ridge
• Sanchez Memorial Park
• Silver Leaf Park
• Singleton Park
• Spieler Park
• Splash Station Waterpark
• Springwood South Park
• Taft School Playground
• Theodore Crossing Park
• Thomas Jefferson School Playground
• Varnado Park
• Washington Park
• Waterford Point
• Wedgewood Golf Course

How can residents learn more about the funding proposal and offer feedback?

The Joliet Park District will host its latest open house to discuss the funding proposal on Tuesday, March 12 at 6 p.m. in the Kathy Green Multi-Purpose Center at Inwood.