River Forest schools tax referendum campaign kicks off Feb. 12

By BILL DWYER

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

The co-chairman of an ad hoc group created to organize grass-roots support for the River Forest District 90’s proposed tax hike referendum said Saturday that her group’s effort would formally begin Feb. 12. While time and place are not yet confirmed, co-chairman Amy McCormack of the Committee to Save River Forest Schools said she expects it to take place in the Roosevelt Middle School gym.

The Dist. 90 school board announced Dec. 19 that it would seek a property tax increase of 27.5 cents per $100 in equalized assessed valuation in a March 21 referendum.

The referendum campaign will include a number of public forums, letter mailings, and making school board members available to answer voters’ questions regarding reasons for the tax hike. Members of the committee are currently engaged in raising the estimated $15,000 needed to conduct the campaign.

"The biggest part of the effort is educating people," said McCormack, noting that organizers do not want to start too early.

"Most people don’t focus on these issues until the final month or so," she said. "The last month is really pretty crucial."

McCormack acknowledged that property taxes are a concern for River Forest families. But she characterized the proposed referendum as essential to maintaining a crucial village institution.

"By and large we’re hearing positive responses," she said. Some are concerned, but they seem to understand what is at stake.

"Not many have closed the door to a yes vote," said McCormack, adding that she’s already witnessed several people change their minds after hearing the financial figures related to the issue.

"When you hear the information, it’s hard to vote ‘no’," she said.

One person who will definitely vote ‘no’ on the referendum, however, is Bruno Behrends, a River Forest resident and staunch anti-tax crusader. Behrends, who has characterized Dist. 90 as "a franchise of the educational industry," was the lone dissenting voice in the room the night the school board approved placing the referendum before voters. Behrends argued that the district must control the growth of payroll and benefits costs.

"If $15 million can’t properly educate 1,400 children, there’s something seriously wrong with the educational system," Behrends said Monday. He isn’t sure yet exactly how he’ll campaign against the referendum.

"It looks like there’s a few people on my side for this," he said.

But McCormack argued the Dist. 90 school board has been relentlessly diligent in looking for every possible way to avoid raising taxes without sacrificing educational quality.

"It’s been painstaking in looking at the budget," she said. "There is no fat in the budget."

In addition, she said, the school board has managed to stretch the time from 1998 to 2006, three years past the expected date for a new referendum.

"I hope the voters appreciate that," said McCormack.

The campaign committee

The co-chairs of the Committee to Save River Forest Schools are both veteran volunteers with the district. Sue Foran, a 12-year village resident, served as Willard and Roosevelt PTO president and on the District 90 Diversity Committee. She also chaired the 2002 Dist. 90 Community Caucus. McCormack, a 10-year village resident, is a practicing lawyer, and has been involved with the Willard and Roosevelt PTOs.

The other 21 members of the committee are: Brian Allen, Bill Bower, Kathleen Brand-White, Anne Brennan, Margie Cekander, Karen Dale, Sally DelBeccaro, Ken Gaebler, Ellen Hanson, Patty Henek, Sue Kelty, Patty McEnaney, Alison Nelson, Anne Pepper, Terrie Rayburn, Catherine Trage, Tina Weinheimer, John Trage, Liz Tinkham, Gardi Wilks, and Lynn Zurowski.