The comments that Crystal Lake Library bond referendum opponent Sally Munn told the Crystal Lake City Council on Tuesday night:
I am here tonight to ask Council how it will address open issues related to the library referendum that was on the Nov 8th ballot.
As the record shows, the Crystal Lake community voted “No” on the referendum.
Election results of the Crystal Lake Library bond referendum.
As this was a non-binding referendum, Council needs to publicly comment on whether it will be guided by the community or disregard the will of the people and proceed with the bond issue.
I opposed the referendum.
My “No” vote was not a vote against the library, rather a vote against the agenda put forth by the
Library Board.
My family & I are regular users of the library and believe a library can play an important role in the community. Unfortunately, the manner in which the Library Board managed the process around the proposal for a new library funded by the tax payers was neither honest nor transparent.
I am here tonight because I believe that the Library Board’s actions around the referendum were on a par with, or more grievous, than those of the School Board relative to the bleachers at South High
School.
It is for that reason, that I opposed the referendum and why I am standing before you now.
I am here tonight to request that Council provide answers to the community relative to:
- Whether it will respect the No vote given by the community.
- How Council will address the real estate transactions executed by the Library Board.
- How the City has or will address liability related to the Library Board serving as landlord for 5
single family residences and an apartment building. - Whether the Council contemplates changes to the Library Board or the manner in which they hold their positions. Specifically, will Council change the process from one of appointment without effective term limits, to one in which Library Board members are accountable to the community via direct election?
I thank you for your time and will await your reply.
yeah, don’t hold your breathe as they go behind public majority votes and cares, and do what they do best !
What ever they feel like!
I hope all those people who did not come out and VOTE these people out when they had the chance are feeling real lucky now: to be paying and making us pay for : just some of the tax burdens put upon us recently:
1. an unnecessary increase in sales TAX.
2. The Bleacher payouts.
3. WCC taxes.
4. and now trying to shove the library $$ down our throats or is it up?…
BUT, its only $30,000,000….we need it!
The library board plans to put another referendum in the April elections.
Probably hoping less people show up to vote and they can get it passed by a small amount.
Obviously the Mayor is in favor of it.
30 million is way too much to ask for when there are so many people hurting financially.
There are other options but the board doesn’t want you to know them all.
They only talk about the 9 million dollar one and the 30 million one.
will be voting No again if it is on the ballet in April.
A library referendum also failed in Brookfield (Cook County) in the November 8, 2016 election.
“Shall the Village of Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois erect a new public library building, furnish necessary equipment therefor and issue its bonds to the amount of not to exceed $10,300,00 for the purpose of paying the costs thereof?”
Registered Voters: 12,509
Ballots Cast: 9,520 (12 of 12 Precincts reported)
Turnout: 76.11%
Yes 47.34% (4,375 votes)
No 52.66% (4,867 votes)
I don’t know why you (Jgkm6) say the board doesn’t want you to know their other options.
I’ve seen them described at meetings and I’ve heard them detailed in a presentation and they were explained in a library mailing.
The two they don’t talk about much are both bad options, I’d agree with them there.
And although I don’t want to spend $30M on a new building, I sure don’t want to put any money into that crappy old building.
No matter how you justify it, lady, a no vote is against the library, and a yes vote is for the library.
Nowhere on the ballot do you get to provide a reason or justification.
If that helps your conscience and allows you to sleep at night, then go with it.
But please don’t tell me the why – it doesn’t matter.
Voting is an all or nothing thing; there’s not “sorta, kinda, well” in the middle.
McHenry County College has not increased its tax take in three years and next year will be the fourth year.
I know of no other tax district in this county that has accomplished this.
Northwest Herald
Crystal Lake Library Board Considering Options After Failed Referendum
November 28, 2016
by Kevin Craver
“The plan rejected by voters sought to build a 75,000 square foot library, about double the size of the existing 40,000 square foot facility, which would increase property taxes an average of $132 a year for the owner of a $200,000 home that qualifies for homestead exemption.”
“Although community engagement groups convened by the library board this year chose to go with the $30.1 million new facility, other options included repairing 40,000 square feet for $9.1 million and a more expensive rebuilding of 45,000 square feet for $15.2 million.”
http://www.nwherald.com/2016/11/25/crystal-lake-library-board-considering-options-after-failed-referendum/aryn5pg
Top to change the leaders at the top of city council directing the library board to spend more and more $$$$ cha-ching..
D47 cha-ching and just wait for the land-lords in the state Capitol
cha-ching hope everyone is saving up your pennies
Time
The $132 a year property tax hike is for year one only (for the owner of a $200,000 home that qualifies for homestead exemption).
One would have to look at the existing bond debt services schedule, and the proposed bond debt service schedule, to make an estimate as to future property tax payments just for bonds.
The City of Crystal Lake never provided an estimate for the property tax hike for all years until the bonds would be retired.
The City of Crystal Lake never provided an estimated bond debt service schedule for the proposed $30.1 million referendum.
The voters never had, and still do not have, enough information to make a decision on the financial impact of the library referendum to their property taxes for years two until the bonds would be retired.
Such lack of transparency by property taxing districts is common in bond referendums in Illinois.