White Oak Referendum Projected To Fail Again

ROMEOVILLE, IL — For the sixth time in three years, voters once again appeared to reject the White Oak Library District’s try for a tax rate increase. A referendum seeking an increase from 18.54 cents per $100 of assessed value to 21.5 cents per $100 of assessed value was defeated with all precincts reporting on Tuesday night. The library district said the increase would have meant an additional $16.80 per year for the average homeowner.

The increase would have paid for expanded hours at the library district’s three branches. Although a successful $23 million referendum in 2010 helped pay for renovations to the Lockport and Romeoville branches, plus a brand-new Crest Hill branch, the library reduced hours from 68 to 60 per week at all locations that same year.

The referendum would also have allowed the library to create a digital media lab where residents and business owners could transfer VHS to DVD, restore family photos, create promotional materials, record podcasts, film videos, compose music and more. The funding would have also paid for increased services for older residents.

Voters said no to tax rate increases in November 2018, March 2018, April 2017, November 2016 and March 2016.

Here's how Tuesday's unofficial vote totals shook out:

• Yes: 48.82%
• No: 51.18%

The final tally was 2,773 yes votes to 2,907 no votes, a 134-vote difference.