Few people spoke out against a referendum for Community Consolidated School District 180 in Burr Ridge after it was unanimously proposed in November.
But hopes that the silence meant assent proved false Tuesday when the referendum was voted down 579 to 480.
The proposed “tax swap” would have shifted tax money that would be used to pay off School District building bonds to fund existing programs, raising about $1 million for District 180. Board members emphasized if the referendum was approved, tax rates would stay the same. The building bonds are expected to be fully paid off by 2009.
While the referendum started off falling behind, it became a close race at about 10:45 p.m. with five of the six precincts reporting in and only the final precinct proving decisive.
“At the next meeting we have to look at what we’re changing for the coming year,” said School Board President Paula DuPont. “We’re going to have to get specific. We talked about it and kind of said everything is on the table.”
The district is running about a $2 million deficit for the current fiscal year but had a surplus last year after receiving $1 million in federal impact aid. Argonne National Laboratory sits on district land and because the district will never reap property taxes from the government building, it receives compensation. Payments have been unpredictable in years past and the most recent payoff included overdue funds.
“Just because they calculate that we are owed a certain amount does not mean we receive it,” DuPont said. “They send us how much they want to send, when they want to send it.”
To make up for the deficit, District 180 is expected to dig into cash reserves, reducing them from the $3.7 million it had last summer to $1.9 million by June, according to board documents.
“We weren’t going after this to have a cushion,” DuPont said. “We were going after this to make the payroll.”
Referendum funds would have maintained remedial and gifted programs, low class sizes and after-school programs, DuPont said. Even if the measure had passed, the district would still need to tighten some of its expenses.
Officials already have cut some costs by deciding not to replace staff that recently left the district. Other possible changes include fewer classroom aides and an end to band, music and fine arts programs.
“We’re really taking a hard look at how we can be smart about staying in line and making some changes,” she said.
