District 308 Asks For Tax Hike To Avoid Deep Budget Cuts

OSWEGO, IL — Facing a $3.5 million budget deficit, School District 308 is asking for a property tax hike to forestall looming cuts that could spell doom for many of the district's elective classes and arts and sports programs. The board of education passed a resolution last month authorizing a referendum to appear on April's ballot asking voters whether they would support a proposition to increase the district's property tax rate, which currently capped by state law, by 30 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value.

For the average Kendall County homeowner, that would mean about $220 more in property taxes every year, based on average home prices from Zillow.

If you live in Kendall, Kane or Will Counties, here's the language you will see on your ballot:

Provide for and require the submission of the proposition to increase the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law to the voters of Oswego Community Unit School District Number 308, Kendall, Kane and Will Counties, Illinois at the consolidated election to be held on the 2nd day of April 2019.

"As you've likely heard, our district continues to face economic challenges," said Superintendent John Sparlin in an email to parents late last year. "Over the last few years, we've been faced with difficult decisions, making cuts that have affected every department in the district. Under our Board of Education's direction, cuts with the least impact on our students were made. As this process continues, it becomes difficult to find additional ways of reducing costs without affecting the student experience."

A list of cost-saving measures was presented for review at December's board meeting, but officials said they would wait for community feedback before voting on any budget cuts.

To successfully balance the district's budget, officials say budget cuts would have to be deep. Cuts over the last three years haven't been enough. Neither have fee increases.

"A balanced budget isn't sustainable without...cuts that will have impact on the availability of programs and classes, extracurricular activities, class sizes, and more," the district writes on its web page. "The board of education wants to keep the impact of financial strain away from students, but that will become impossible if cuts must continue."

Officials say the district's cash reserves continue to dwindle, endangering the district's long-term financial stability. Illinois has faced its own budget crisis over the past several years, and the district blames a combination of reduced or late payments from the state and the fact that the tax levy was frozen for three years for its financial problems.

Find more information here.

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