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The Unit 5 and District 87 school boards and several other districts in McLean County have voted to put a sales tax referendum on the April 1 ballot. The proposed 1% sales tax would raise money for school facilities, school resource officers, and mental health programming.
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The tentative FY23-24 budget is about 10% higher than last year, and includes a $173 million operating plan.
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Superintendent Kristen Weikle also announced Tuesday that McLean County's largest school district will launch a major strategic planning initiative next year.
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Incumbents Amy Roser and Kelly Pyle, along with newcomers Alex Williams and Mark Adams, won seats on the board, according to vote tallies late Tuesday.
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Voters approved the Unit 5 tax referendum on the second attempt – a decision that district leaders say will avoid painful budget cuts starting next school year.
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The mayor of Carlock, Rhonda Baer, says the potential closure of her town’s elementary school could be devastating to her community.
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A leading Bloomington-Normal business group, the CEO Council, says it’s now endorsing the Unit 5 tax referendum, after staying neutral the last time it was on the ballot.
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Data from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) show Unit 5 tax rates are lower than average among peer districts in total property tax rate. That also would be true if rates that would go into effect after a successful referendum are compared to the most current data available statewide.
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Unit 5’s non-citizen stakeholders are largely left out of the public debate over the tax referendum — the outcome of which will impact them just like everyone else. Non-citizens can’t vote in Illinois elections, although a bill in Springfield would change that.
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While Stan Nord’s actions have drawn particular attention due to his status as an elected official, they are not the first instance of community members attempting to use communication, or contact with the Normal Police Department to impact the electoral process.