Mokena District 159 Referendum Successful

MOKENA, IL — The District 159 limiting rate referendum is successful. Voters said "yes" to increasing the limiting rate for District 159. The "yes" vote won by over 200 votes. According to the district, this referendum will not increase taxes, since the district will pay off the bonds used to construct MJHS this year.

According to a resolution filed with the Will County Clerk, the school board determined that the existing limiting rate for operating purposes was not sufficient to provide funds to pay for the costs of providing an efficient and adequate program to meet the needs of the district.

Funds will go toward maintaining, updating and repairing aging facilities in the district. According to a FAQ on the district website, some projects identified include inadequate security measures, poor temperature/humidity control, interior surfaces need upgrade, envelop repairs and improvements; and hardscapes in need of repair.

The question voters saw on the ballot was:

"Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for Mokena School District Number 159, Will County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to .30% above the limiting rate for school purposes for levy year 2017 and be equal to the 2.7967% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therin for levy year 2019?"

Election results

With 9 out of 9 precincts reporting

• Yes: 1,196
• No: 919

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NOTE: Tuesday's results are unofficial and do not include provisional and late absentee ballots.

You can also find results on the local Mokena races and the Lincoln-Way school board race on Patch.

"The District will pay off the bonds sold for building the Mokena Junior High School in two years. The District is asking voters to approve a referendum that would move the thirty cents used to pay off the MJHS bonds to these projects," the district said. "Thus, the amount you are currently paying toward those MJHS bonds will move to these projects and your taxes will not increase as a result of this referendum. If you live in a $300,000 home, you are currently paying approximately $289 toward the bonds."