RF schools will seek March tax referendum
Board also proposes cuts to 2006-07 budget

By BILL DWYER

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

River Forest schools will ask voters for a tax hike in March.

The River Forest Elementary School District 90 board voted unanimously Monday night to ask voters to raise the tax rate by 9 percent in a referendum on the March 21 primary ballot.

If approved, the referendum would raise the tax rate assessed on residential properties to $3.27 per $100 of equalized assessed value, up 27.5 cents from the previous rate of $2.995, though less than the 32.5-percent increase recommended by a board-appointed Fiscal Action Team in November.

"As a board we decided to ask for a lower rate out of respect for the taxpayer," said board President David Gregg. "With very tight fiscal management, passage of this referendum will enable the district to preserve and maintain the quality of all the educational programs for five years."

District 90 last held a tax hike referendum in 1998, which passed. The district has since been able to hold off scheduling another referendum three years past the projected five-year life of the last referendum, but is currently in deficit spending, with a projected $3.8 million deficit in 2008-09 and an anticipated $8.3 million shortfall in the 2009-10 school year.

Eight people spoke in support of the referendum, all saying that it was the reputation and quality of the village’s schools that attracted them to River Forest. The lone voice of dissent was Bruno Behrends, who urged voters not to "rubber stamp" every tax increase sought by the education system.

Characterizing District 90 as "a franchise of the educational industry," Behrends criticized what he termed a misstatement of facts in the local press regarding raises given to teachers, as well as "hidden tax increases," and end-of-career bonuses handed out to teachers.

"They call it education, but it’s going to bureaucracy," said Behrends, a resident of the 800 block of Forest Ave.

Behrends asked for and was granted additional time to speak against the tax referendum in what he called a "stacked audience," that included several members of a group organized to advocate passage of the referendum.

The vast majority present expressed admiration for what they termed a quality educational product that they were willing to pay more to sustain at the current levels. Several noted that they didn’t particularly want to pay higher taxes, but that the schools were central to what River Forest is about. They also defended the fiscal responsibility of the school board.

"The past and current board has done a terrific job of managing our taxpayer money since the last referendum, extending it from five years to seven years," said Liz Tinkham, of the 1000 block of Franklin Avenue.

"Referendums are the only realistic means by which a school district can remain financially stable," said 12-year resident Sue Foran, of the 900 block of Bonnie Brae. "It’s a great place for children to go to school, and I want it to remain one."

While praising the district’s academic programs, Karen Dale, of the 1300 block of Jackson Avenue, said that what made her kid’s time in River Forest schools "most special" were the extra curricular activities offered, such as music, singing, drama and musicals. Noting that such programs were targeted to be cut if a referendum doesn’t pass, Dale said, "I believe extracurriculars are critically important experiences that help develop the whole child."

Sue Kelty, of the 600 block of William Avenue, appeared to respond to Behrend’s comments about salaries when she said, "Our staff are not the highest paid in the state. We are actually very reasonably ranked in the state."

Gregg thanked the more than 20 members of the Fiscal Action Team for their "diligent work" in assessing the district’s options. Among those options were cost savings in targeted programs, which Gregg said the board will make next year, whether or not the referendum passes. Included will be costs related to a summer school position, a floating custodial position, school board professional development, and administrative professional development.

Monday’s action was a green light to a privately managed citizens’ effort co-chaired by residents Sue Foran and Amy McCormack, who are currently organizing a team of volunteers to advocate for the referendum throughout the village.

The Committee to Preserve River Forest Schools, which has 24 members, released a statement Tuesday urging village residents to support the referendum, saying it is "necessary to preserve the excellence both of the schools and the community."

"The outcome of the ... referendum has tremendous consequences for all village residents," said McCormack.