New Lenox Park District Tax Vote Fails

New Lenox residents Tuesday voted against maintaining the New Lenox Park District’s current taxing rate.

The referendum asked voters to approve the park district keeping the tax rate as-is, to bring in about $750,000 annually for capital projects, specifically new and renovated parks.

With all precincts reporting, 7,605 opposed the measure, while 5,604 voted in favor.

With the failure of the referendum, the district’s tax rate will lower from 30 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value to 24 cents, due to the bonds used to develop Sanctuary Golf Course being paid off in March.

Park board president Brian Fischer was concerned about the wording of the referendum, saying it read as though the park district was seeking a higher tax rate, though it sought only to extend the existing rate. The funds would have been used to build parks in existing subdivisions, where there aren’t already parks. Another possible use would have included a sports dome for all-weather play.

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