Arbor Park Tax Hike Supporters Banking on Voter Turnout

Supporters of a 23 percent tax hike in Arbor Park District 145 are crossing their fingers that others in favor show up to the polls.

Last week, Patch readers were split over the referendum after learning , should it pass.

Arbor Park District 145 parent and referendum proponent Janine Perez said she hopes those who have spoken up in support of the hike will remember to hit the polls. With no mayoral election, the group is not expecting a large voter turnout.

"We’re not going to stand in front of the polling locations. We’re just counting on our supporters, people that have children within the district, who believe that we need this vote to keep our community strong," Perez said.

As noted in the earlier Patch article, residents may believe their property tax bill will increase $60 for every $100,000 of their home's assessed value. Actually, the increase will be $202.21, according to Ali ElSaffar, president of the Cook County Township Assessors Association.

The number left out of the formula, said ElSaffar, is the state equalizer, which when missing provides an estimate that only represents as little as 30 percent of the actual increase.

"This happened in every referendum in the county, but we aren't blaming the taxing districts," ElSaffar said. "The problem is in the way the law firms hired to write the questions calculated them."

ElSaffar said the problem also stems from a 2006 state statute related to the wording of referendums, which does not specifically state the equalizer needs to be in the calculation.

Perez said the news seemed to cause a panic districtwide, and that a group of organized supporters have been working together to educate people about the increase since the board voted the item onto the ballot. They've focused on the families they know will support the increase.

"We’re hoping that they [supporters] fill their cars," Perez said.

The group will be poll watching, to monitor if those who have expressed support are making it to the polls, Perez said.

"We're talking to the people we know, that are families within the district that will be voting 'yes.' We have not tried to sway any votes, if they’ve told us they’re a 'no' voter, we’ve respected their opinion.

"Negative spreads like wildflowers, so I’m just hoping that people remain calm, call the county assessor’s office to find out the right amount.

"With the belief in the power of positive thinking, I’m going to say, we’re thinking we’re going to take it."