Lisle District 202 Referendum Information

LISLE 202 COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT

REFERENDUM

INFORMATION VOTE APRIL 2

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What is the Referendum Question on the April 2 ballot?

Shall the amount extended for educational purposes by Lisle Community Unit School District be reduced from $19,062,127.15 to $17,155,915.00 for the 2018 levy year, but in no event lower than the amount required to maintain an adequacy target of 110%?

Why is a Referendum Question on the April 2 ballot?

Illinois legislators recently adopted the Evidence Based Funding for Student Success Act to define what minimum or “adequate” resources a school needs in order to function and to direct additional money to the poorest funded school districts. One aspect of the new law allows voters to place a binding question on the ballot of school districts with an “adequacy level” of more than 110% to decrease property taxes for Educational Purposes. It is important to note that in Illinois, school districts range from a low of 45% of adequacy to a high of 283% of adequacy with approximately half of school districts in DuPage County exceeding the 110% adequacy level. District 202 has an adequacy level of 149% according to the Evidence Based Funding Model.

The Question was not put on the ballot by the District, but if the Referendum is approved by a majority of those who cast ballots, it will have a direct impact on the educational services that our District provides to our students.

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What will be the impact on the students and the School District?

The Referendum Question on the April 2nd ballot will ask the voters to approve an approximate $1,200,000 reduction in property taxes that are used to provide programs and services to the 1,400 students in District 202. As a result of this loss of funding, the School District will need to make decisions as to how to go forward without this revenue. At this time, the District projects that in order to align with the “minimums” identified in the Evidence Based Funding for Student Success Act, the District would reduce staff and services by eliminating up to 15 salaried positions, the majority of which would be teachers along with expected reductions in the following areas: Increase in class sizes and Reductions in staff: • Teacher educator positions • Administrative positions • Support personnel positions

Reduction in programs: • Honors courses • Advanced Placement courses • World Language courses • Music & Arts courses • Elimination of 10% of Athletic and ExtraCurricular Activities • 10% Reduction in Instructional Materials Budget

Is the referendum permanent?

Yes. The law mandates that if a referendum of this type passes, the application to a school district’s finances is a PERMANENT reduction in the Education Fund and will only increase by the annual Consumer Price Index (typically about one to two percent). Thus, the Education Fund levy would be reduced from current levels to a new “base” level. The following year and each year after, rather than returning to the pre-referendum level, the Education Fund would remain at the new “base” level and only increase by the Consumer Price Index thereafter.

What will be the impact on current homeowners?

The Referendum will permanently reduce the School District’s budget by $1.2 million.

If the referendum passes, the impact on homeowners’ property tax bill would be a reduction of approximately $67 per $100,000 in home value.

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Home Value ~$100,000 ~$200,000 ~$300,000

Week $1 $3 $4

Month $6 $11 $17

Year $67 $133 $200

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Why did the impact of the Referendum change from $1.9 million to 1.2 million?

The Evidence Based Funding for Student Success Act is a new law placed on the ballot in Lisle by a small group of residents and the resulting referendum is the first of its kind under this new law. Initially, the County Clerk communicated that, if passed, the referendum would be applied to the 2019 tax levy which would result in reductions of $1.9 million to the Education Fund.

However, on February 12, 2019, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office determined that the referendum would be applied to the 2018 levy instead of the 2019 levy. This change in interpretation of the application of the law resulted in a different dollar amount. Should the voters approve the referendum, a reduction of $1.2 million will be applied the Education Fund, directly impacting the educational services that our District provides to our students.

How were the possible reductions determined?

THE POSSIBLE REDUCTIONS ARE BASED ON THE EVIDENCE BASED FUNDING MODEL. The reductions outlined in the proposed list are based on the minimums identified by the Evidence Based Funding Model.

The Evidence Based Funding Model sets levels of “adequacy” or minimums, that all schools should have to be able to function.

FOR EXAMPLE, FOR A SCHOOL THE SIZE OF LISLE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (300 STUDENTS)...

“Adequate”

BEYOND “Adequate”

Four (4) core positions for each grade and two (2) physical education teachers for the entire school.

Math

Science

English/ Language Arts

Social Studies

Physical Education

The minimum does not allow for current programs offered such as:

Band, Choir Art

World Languages

Career/ Technical Education

Other Electives

www.lisle202.org/april-2-referendum

WHAT IS THE REFERENDUM QUESTION ON THE BALLOT?

APRIL 2

Shall the amount extended for educational purposes by Lisle Community Unit School District be reduced from $19,062,127.15 to $17,155,915.00 for the 2018 levy year, but in no event lower than the amount required to maintain an adequacy target of 110%?

ARE YOU READY TO VOTE? Check your Voter Registration Status Any U.S. citizen 18 years of age or over who is a resident of Lisle District 202 for 30 days before the election can vote on April 2.

Not sure if you are registered to vote?

Check your voter registration status at www.dupageco.org/VoterLookup

Register to Vote Online Register to vote online beginning February 28th at https://ova.elections.il.gov

Grace Period Voting Grace Period Voting allows citizens who meet voting criteria to register to vote and cast a vote on the same day at an Early Voting location.

Learn more at www.dupageco.org/Election/Voting/37060

Vote Early DuPage County Building - February 21st - April 1st Permanent Satellite Locations - March 18th - April 1st Temporary Satellite Locations - March 18th - March 30th Learn more at www.dupageco.org/earlyvoting

Vote by Mail Get your application from any DuPage County Registration location or download at www.dupageco.org/Election/Voting/37064.

Return your completed application to the DuPage Election Commission.

Upon receipt, a ballot will be mailed to you to vote.

Ballot must be postmarked no later than Election day in order to be counted.