Referendum roundup: Thornton Township votes down mental health, Homer Glen voters support dissolving Homer Township
Village President Richard Reinbold said Wednesday officials are pleased voters approved the home rule referendum and the two nonbinding referendums.
“We’re very grateful for the community support on that,” Reinbold said. “Our task was to inform the community on home rule and how it would benefit our community.”
The home rule measure received 52.2% in support, according to unofficial results from the Cook County clerk’s office.
The infrastructure investments received 64.22% of votes in support, and the development and beautification measure received 77.78% votes, according to the unofficial results.
The infrastructure investments and beatification measures were nonbinding, Reinbold said, to gauge community interest.
“We wanted to make sure we’re on the right track,” Reinbold said.
The home rule ballot question triggered a battle between Realtor groups that said it would be used to increase taxes while village officials promised more development.
Towns with fewer than 25,000 people have many of its powers restricted but can pass a home rule ballot measure to gain greater flexibility finances, building, zoning, sanitation and certain criminal offenses, according to the Illinois Municipal League.
Reinbold said Richton Park leaders hoped voters would vote for home rule by promising to not unilaterally impose a sales tax, to cancel park fees for residents and freeze property tax and water fees.
But another referendum opened the door for a sales tax. It asked if the village should dedicate sufficient funds it receives from a home rule sales tax for investments in public infrastructure. Reinbold said this was a poll of whether voters want to have a sales tax.
Homer Township referendum
Homer Glen residents apparently supported the village pursuing efforts to dissolve or discontinue township government, a move supporters said would be the first step to eliminate layers of government and duplicative services and save taxpayer money.
The referendum received 52.64% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Will County clerk’s office.
Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike said Wednesday she had mixed emotions about the results.
“It wasn’t like it was a landslide. I think people didn’t understand what an advisory question is, and the village didn’t really promote it one way or another,” Neitzke-Troike said.
Homer Township Supervisor Steve Balich agreed with the mayor.
“It’s not overwhelming,” Balich said of the results.
The referendum was not binding, but was to gauge residents’ feelings and give the Village Board direction, Neitzke-Troike said.
She said the Village Board will research what next steps could be taken for the village to take over township roles and save taxpayer dollars.
“A lot of people thought it was a fight between me and the supervisor and that’s not it at all. We wanted to save some taxpayer money,” she said.
Homer Glen makes up nearly 62% of the township, with Lockport accounting for about 30%. About 6.8% of the township is unincorporated area and just more than 1% is New Lenox and Lemont combined.
Balich said the township provides several services to its residents.
The township takes care of some roads that Homer Glen residents use, maintains open space and a dog park, has a medical supply cabinet to loan walkers, shower chairs, crutches and other items, offers senior services and plans events such as a senior expo and a pet fair, he said.
Joy Brown, who cast her ballot Tuesday at the Homer Township Public Library, said she voted against the referendum because she hadn’t seen much information about it. She said the way the question was phrased it was unclear what would happen if the township was dissolved.
“I didn’t know what that would look like,” she said.
Craig Brown said he voted against the referendum because he wants to see a balance between township and municipal government.
“This was a power play by the city,” he said.
Thornton township referendums
In Thornton Township, voters opposed a referendum for a tax to support mental health services, according to unofficial election results.
A similar question was narrowly defeated a year ago, and the question Tuesday indicated the tax would add about $44 a year for a home with a fair market value of $100,000.
The township referendum stated the money generated would be used to provide community mental health facilities and services, including services for people with developmental disabilities and substance use.
About 61.8% of voters oppose the proposition,according to unofficial results from the Cook County clerk’s office.
Township voters were also asked whether the township should establish a second food pantry, and 72.9% of voters approved.
About 80% of voters opposed a question on charging a $2 fee for people using the township’s soup and salad bar.
Palos District 118
Palos Elementary District 118 asked voters to approve levying $4.35 million for debt service to be used instead for operating funds, and 59.4% of voters approved.
The $4.35 million comes from shifting funds from the debt service fund to the operating fund, a financial maneuver requiring voter approval. Because interest rates have gone up in recent years, Superintendent Anthony Scarsella said not only would this referendum not cost the taxpayers’ more money, it may save money because they would not pay interest on the debt payment funds.
Lemont, Robbins park districts
Lemont Park District residents appeared to approve a $17 million referendum to improve the Centennial Community Center, The Core Fitness and Aquatic Complex, and Derby Farm Park, as well as building pickleball and tennis courts.
Taxes will remain at the present rate, said executive director Louise Egofske, because it replaces funding of a 2007 referendum, which was for $16 million to build the fitness and aquatics center.
The bonds for the 2007 referendum will mature in 2025, Egofske said, so the district asked residents to continue paying the same tax rate — about $175 a year for a $400,000 home — to finance the four projects.
The Lemont Park District referendum received 70.6% of the vote, according to unofficial results.
In a statement Wednesday, Egofske said the district is grateful that the referendum passed.
“From the survey responses to the ballots cast in yesterday’s vote, your voices have been heard and we are honored to deliver what matters most to you here in our community,” said Park Board President Bill McAdam in the same statement.
In Robbins, 54.6% of residents voted yes on a 0.450% property tax increase to the Park District portion of their tax bill to go toward playgrounds and a new multipurpose recreation facility.
The Robbins Park District requested the increase above the limiting rate for levy year 2022, which would bring the total property tax the district collects to 0.676%. If approved, taxpayers would pay about $132 a year for a $100,000 home, according to the referendum.
Hazel Crest referendums
Hazel Crest voters appeared to approve referendums pertaining to vehicle stickers and a planned arts district, but rejected a referendum to extend term limits for village elected officials
The term limit question, which was binding, would have limited village elected officials to five consecutive four-year terms, with the limit starting with those elected in the spring 2025 election.
About 54.1% voters cast ballots against the term limit question, according to unofficial results from the Cook County clerk’s office, with all precincts reporting.
Hazel Crest Mayor Vernard Alsberry Jr. said village officials talked about doing away with the vehicle stickers, which fare not a major revenue producer, bringing in about $100,000 a year.
The vehicle stickers referendum received 80.6% of votes in support, according to unofficial results.
Another advisory question asked whether the village should pursue establishing an arts district near the village’s Metra station on the Electric Line.
Hazel Crest owns a strip retail center on Dixie Highway several blocks west of the Metra station at Park Avenue and 170th Street. That space could be used to open art studios and stores, Alsberry said.
The arts district referendum received 71.8% of votes in support, according to unofficial results.
