Kane County Forest Preserves Referendum To Appear On Ballot

KANE COUNTY, IL — More improvements to forest preserves in Kane County could be coming soon if voters approve a referendum that will appear on their ballots this election season.

If the referendum passes, the added cost to property taxes for homeowners would be about $35 per year for residents living in homes valued at $350,000. However, because of savings from bond payoffs and refinancing, taxes from the Forest Preserve District are set to decrease by varying amounts between 2025 to 2027 .

Which means that even if the referendum passes, taxpayers would see a reduction in overall taxes from the Forest Preserve District in 2027, according to a news release from the forest preserve district.

Some of the improvements that would be covered, if the referendum passes, include:

• Improvements to Rutland Bog that would allow the public to better access and view the rare ecological communities present
• A multi-level, accessible wildlife observatory at Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve, a birding hot spot recently visited by endangered Whooping Cranes
• An expansion of the bison project, following the initial animals’ arrival later this year
• An urban ecology field station in Aurora, an outpost for our environmental education program and unique to the region
• The referendum would allow the District to create 250 acres of additional habitat per year, and add up to 125 acres of new forest preserve, each year.

The funds would also be used to: preserve and maintain forests and natural land, acquire additional land, plant trees, protect rivers and watersheds, protect and improve wildlife habitat• Enhance flood control and drainage, provide nature education for all ages and improve recreational amenities such as hiking and biking trails, camping and fishing and more, according to forest preserve district officials.

“Funds would be used to further the district’s mission of conservation, recreation and environmental education,” said Benjamin Haberthur, executive director with the forest preserve district. “Passage of this referendum would allow us to continue to protect open space, increase public access to nature through recreational amenities, preserve restore and enhance natural areas, expand nature programming for all ages, improve air and water quality, help reduce flooding, increase public safety patrols and more."

Here is how the referendum will appear on voters' ballots:

Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to 0.029163% above the limiting rate for levy year 2023 for the purpose of preserving and maintaining forests and natural lands; acquiring lands to protect rivers and watersheds; planting trees and protecting wildlife habitat; enhancing flood control and drainage; maintaining and improving forest preserve woodlands, wetlands and prairies; providing nature education and outdoor opportunities for all ages; increasing forest preserve access and safety; improving recreational amenities such as hiking and biking trails, camping and fishing; and for other forest preserve purposes and be equal to 0.074313% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy year 2024?

More information on the forest preserve referendum can be found on the forest preserve district's website.