One of the major local issues that drove McLean County residents to the polls this past November was the Unit District 5 referendum to increase the tax rate for the Educational Fund multiplier inside of the annual property tax levy for district residents. Though the referendum was defeated by a near 7.5 point margin (19,215 to 16,552) in November the district has got the referendum on the ballot again this Spring. “Yes For Unit 5” is a campaign attempting to change voters’ minds from their decision a few months ago.
New school board candidates and several voices in the community have since pointed to varied instances of questionable ethics and procedure centered around this campaign.
Most notably of late, the Unit 5 School Board voted to defund popular extracurricular activities and sports and it is the timing and substance of this decision that has raised concerns of more than a few individuals who point to increased property tax assessments from 2021 that will bring in new revenues to the district.
Brad Wurth, who is a Country Financial agent and running for school board, said this additional revenue coming to the district could apply to their budget problem of $12 million a year. “You have the school board unilaterally cutting funding to our kids’ most beloved activities and sports while they are at the same time set to receive new funds that far exceed these cuts…and they do it in between referendums as a threat. It is quite shameful as many feel they are using the kids as pawns to get a vote reversed.”
Desi Anderson, a former Republican state senate candidate, has also posted to Facebook that on the McLean County website there is historical payable funding that school districts have received in the past. Now there’s data for 2021 payable 2022.
Anderson’s post says: “This link gives you an idea of what you can anticipate for future funds. Property assessments are done – you just haven’t received your bill. Additional guesstimate of Estimated Assessment Value and new construction shows a minimum of $9 million is coming into Unit 5. I strongly believe there are other remedies that can take place before cutting out band, choir etc for our students. ”
The District itself has said in fact accounted for a back to back 6% increase in funds as a result of higher property tax assessments last year and likely planned for this year. According to Marty Hickman, Chief Financial Officer for Unit 5 said they are expecting a 6% increase in the Estimated Assessment Value of Property from 2021 to 2022.
On the Unit 5 FAQ page:
Home sales have been high the last two years. Is that accounted for in the Education Fund projections?
A: Yes, we assumed a 6% increase in the EAV for the next two years (levy years 23 and 24) our Education Fund projections.
Brad Wurth said that number is too low and old, and the newer data should be considered. There was data released by the McLean County Treasurer and Tax Collector.
“In public information meetings we asked Marty where they got that number and they said, ‘They called down to the county assessor.’ And it is a pick-a-number-out-of-the-sky number, we-think- this- is- a- good- estimate-type number, but it is the same exact number they use in November when they tried this tax referendum,” said Wurth. “We have more facts and data available to us now. I asked Barry Hitchens… Why haven’t we addressed the new numbers? Why haven’t we gone back and done more analysis of that 6%, it’s a super conservative number? Months have gone by…”
The amount of new money, estimated by Hickman to be just under $7 million, by Anderson to be about $9 million, and by Wurth to be potentially over $10 million is several times the $1-2m estimated amount of recent cuts and what has raised a red flag to opponents of the referendum.
Desi Anderson said the school board could have waited until after the second referendum vote to deal more honestly in the situation and has raised concerns about the district’s methods in promoting the referendum, “We are cutting your kids programs and sports…but if you vote yes we won’t.. or we “might not.”
Property tax dollars fund 61.3% of the school district’s budget.
