Voters in Skokie, Glenview, Northfield, Kenilworth and Glencoe are voting in the Nov. 5 election on issues that could raise their taxes and affect the quality of services they receive, including schools and parks.
While many people have the presidential election top of mind, civic experts say local races often have the most impact on people’s lives.
“This is democracy in action and where democracy is most relevant, that is where we live. To that extent it is a net positive,” noted Joe Ferguson, the president of the Civic Federation, a Chicago-based non-partisan government research organization.
Skokie
Skokie voters will cast ballots on a referendum on whether there should be a three-term limit on the offices of mayor, clerk and trustee.
If passed, the new limit would go into effect starting in 2025 for mayor and clerk and 2027 for trustee, according to a village website posting. The limits would become effective next year, but would not be retroactive, meaning it would not count the years that current elected officials have already served.
Glenview
At Glenview School District 34, the school board placed a referendum question asking for an approximate 2.65 percent rate increase to fund operations. That would translate to a $49 increase in property taxes for every $100,000 in home value.
District officials state the money would be used for educational materials, programming, transportation and building maintenance and other needs.
Glencoe
In Glencoe, residents are being asked whether the village will shift to a “home rule” form of government that will allow the village greater say in policy, including certain taxing authority. Any Illinois community with a population of greater than 25,000 automatically receives home rule, but the total number of Glencoe residents is 8,570, according to the Census Bureau.
Glencoe also has a second referendum. The Park District board placed a $14.7 million bond sale referendum in front of voters. The proceeds would fund several improvements at the Glencoe Beach, the Takiff Center Athletic Field and construction of a new community greenhouse.
Park District officials state residents would not see an increase in the park district’s portion of their property tax bills if the measure is passed because debt from a previous referendum is about to come off the books. However, if the referendum is not approved, Glencoe residents would see a $261 reduction in property taxes on a home with a fair market value of $1 million.
Kenilworth
The Kenilworth Park District placed a referendum question on the ballot to potentially move the Green Bay Bike Trail next to Townley Field, construct a new recreation center and continue changes at the Townley Field outdoor recreation spaces.
The Park District projects there would be a $600 property tax hike for a home valued at $1.5 million within the district boundaries.
Northfield
Finally in Northfield, there is a nonbinding referendum regarding the controversial proposal for construction of a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Happ Road, Orchard Lane and Walnut Street.
Ferguson, the Civic Federation president, spoke in general about the importance of these ballot measures.
“It is something that people should appreciate that the referendum form of engagement is an opening and an activation of civic space that quite often occupies exactly the place where people feel most disconnected from government these days, which are the things that matter most immediately to them in their communities,” he said. “We should view referenda as an invitation to be more deeply and broadly engaged as citizens.”
