LHS Board To Vote On Placing Referendum On November Ballot

LEMONT, IL — At its Thursday board meeting, the Lemont High School Board of Education will vote on a resolution to place a referendum question on the ballot for the upcoming election on Nov. 8.

The proposition will look to increase the debt service extension base for the school district, with the potential to eventually update some of the district's aging buildings. If it's approved by voters, the district's debt service extension base would increase to $5 million each year. Currently, the district's debt service extension base is limited to $249,604 each year, the district said.

If a debt service extension base question were approved by voters in November, taxpayers would see no increase to the bond and interest rate on their tax bills, the district said.

Earlier this month, the district launched a community engagement effort through a phone survey of residents to discuss the district's aging facilities.

The district said more than 500 people took part in the survey, which asked opinions about the high school district, to rate their support for several potential facility improvement projects, and opinions about potential methods of funding.

Results of the survey indicated a strong community support of the district, and seven of the 10 projects described in the survey had at least 60 percent support from participants, with some projects having support of 75 percent or better, according to the district. Projects included improvements to classrooms, science labs, career work spaces, athletic facilities and the school's cafeteria, among others.

Of those who responded, 70 percent were also favorable to a debt service extension base increase, and this was preferred over a traditional infrastructure bond referendum.

With an increase in the debt service extension base, the district said it would have access to consistent funding in order to make necessary improvements on campus as needed. Approving this referendum question would establish a maximum annual debt service extension base of $5,000,000, which is similar to the amount currently generated each year as District 210 pays off its outstanding bonds, the district said.

Taxpayers approved infrastructure bond referenda in 1996 and 2006, the district said. The last payments on outstanding bonds will be made in 2028.

The extension would not go into effect until the outstanding bonds are paid off in 2028.

Any action taken at Thursday's meeting would be the first step in the process for the Board of Education, the district said. If the board approves the resolution, a series of community informational activities will be established in order to educate the community on why the board made the decision to place this referendum question on the ballot.