PALOS HEIGHTS, IL—The fat lady still hasn't sung but is waiting backstage smoking a cigarette while mail-in and provisional votes are being counted in the razor-thin Palos Heights District 128 school referendum.
Election Day ended Tuesday with an initiative for a limiting rate referendum that would generate $2.4 million in recurring annual operating revenue to address the district's ongoing funding challenges one vote away from approval.
"The air got sucked out of the room pretty fast when we heard we were one vote short," said Thad Paskert, a D128 parent and treasurer for the grassroots YesD128 campaign.
Voters cast 3,838 ballots to the referendum question:
"Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for Palos Heights School District Number 128, Cook County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to 0.590000% above the limiting rate for levy year 2024 for the purpose of providing educational programming and instruction and operating, maintaining and improving school buildings and facilities and for other school purposes, and be equal to 3.095955% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2026?"
Part of Dist. 128's budget deficit is attributed to school enrollment which has increased collectively by 28 percent—21 percent in the past five years alone—due to the growing number of young families moving into the school district.
According to the YesD128 campaign, a coalition of parents of past and current students, and other community stakeholders, funding has not kept pace. The district does not receive state dollars based on enrollment. Instead, Illinois distributes state education money through its Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) formula, which is based on home assessment values along with other statutory cost factors.
The referendum has not been officially called as the Cook County Clerk's Office and suburban election authority continues to count mail-in ballots postmarked on or before Nov. 3, as well as provisional ballots.
As of Friday, affirmative votes were up by six votes, 1,922 to 1,916, counted so far by the Cook County Clerk's Office.
"We're fairly confident additional mail-in and provisional ballots will push us over the top," Paskert said.
Regardless if the ballot measure gets approved, the district will still have to trim its 2026-2027 budget by $1 million, which could mean staff and program cuts. The district will not see the new revenue until 2027-2028.
During the referendum campaign YesD128 volunteers went door to door to speak with district residents and leave information about the referendum. A Dist. 128 board member distributed palm cards along with candy to trick-of-treaters.
If it turns out that the referendum is not successful, volunteers said they would put it back on the ballot for the consolidated election on April 6, 2027.
"Our pre-election consultants gave [the referendum] a 42 percent chance of passing," Paskert said. "I was prepared for it but nothing is finalized."
Under Illinois law, eligible ballots can continue to be received and counted for up to 14 days after Election Day. Results reported before the counting and certification process is complete will remain unofficial.
Votes will be certified for all Cook County suburban races on Nov. 17.
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