© 2024 WGLT
A public service of Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

League of Women Voters of McLean County endorses Unit 5 referendum

The League of Women Voters of McLean County is endorsing the Unit 5 referendum.

The group, which focuses on voter education, studied the issue in recent weeks and decided to take a public position in support of the referendum, said League President Faith Russell. It'll advocate for the referendum between now and Election Day (Nov. 8).

“Without a yes vote, the quality of education for our children would suffer,” Russell said. “We think the quality of the community’s public education impacts our economic success, and that part of the reason for our strong economic success so far has been our good educational systems.”

 Faith Russell
Facebook
Faith Russell is president of the League of Women Voters of McLean County.

The Unit 5 referendum aims to address a multimillion-dollar budget deficit that already led to painful cuts last spring in McLean County’s largest school district — cuts that administrators warn are just the tip of the iceberg if voters reject the referendum. If the referendum fails, Unit 5 warns it will force significantly bigger class sizes, reduced course offerings, limited extracurriculars, shorter school days, and possible school closures.

The League is satisfied with the school district’s recent efforts to control costs, Russell said, though it also strives to be "thoughtful" about anything that could raise taxes. The referendum would allow the district to stop using high-interest borrowing (called working cash bonds) to stay afloat — and that’s a good thing, Russell said.

“Paying off those bonds and getting on a stronger financial footing is going to be best for them, for kids, and for taxpayers,” Russell said.

If the referendum is approved, Unit 5’s Education Fund property-tax rate would rise from $2.72 to $3.60 per $100 of assessed value. The pro-referendum group Yes For Unit 5 says that would allow the district to stop using working cash bonds and let other construction debt expire. After that financial maneuvering, Yes For Unit 5 says taxpayers would see an overall tax rate decrease of 70 cents starting in 2026, meaning an average of $420 in annual savings.

That’s a “complicated financial story to unravel,” Russell said. She said the League can help.

“That is one of the places that the League of Women Voters — which puts so much emphasis on educating voters — can play a bit of a role in saying, ‘This is important to understand. It really is in our best interest to support this, for the quality of education and for our own taxpaying status.’”

Russell said the referendum also connects to the League’s focus on defending democracy.

“We really believe that quality public education is the foundation of an educated citizenry and a strong democracy. This lines right up with our values,” she said.

Meanwhile, the McLean County Chamber of Commerce will host an online information session about the referendum for its members from noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, featuring a presentation from Unit 5 Superintendent Kristen Weikle. You can register online.

Editor’s note: WGLT general manager R.C. McBride, a Unit 5 parent, chairs the Yes For Unit 5 steering committee. He is not involved in WGLT’s reporting on Unit 5 or the referendum and does not review WGLT’s stories before they are broadcast or published online.

Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.
Related Content