Park District Referendum Would Keep Same Tax Rate Rather than Planned Cut

Twenty years ago, residents in the Channahon Park District approved a 5-cent tax increase to fund construction of the Tomahawk Aquatic Center and .

With both of those projects completed, the tax increase is about to expire, but proponents of the Channahon Park District referendum are hoping that doesn't happen.

“As a park board and as a park fistrict, the law is very precise in that you can’t go out and ask for a lot of money,” Channahon Park District board member Ron Lehman said.

“What the referendum is really about is that the golf course and swimming pool which [were built] through a 5-cent levy, that’s paid for this year."

What's at stake

When voters head to the polls April 5, they will be asked to vote on a Channahon Park District referendum that would extend the duration of the 5-cent tax rate increase. If the referendum is approved, residents would see no increase in the park district portion of their tax rate, but if it fails to pass, that tax rate would decrease.

The tax rate for the Channahon Park District is currently .2974 per $100 of assessed valuation. For the owners of a home worth $250,000, about $40 of their taxes goes to the park district. If the referendum fails, the tax rate will go down to .2474.

“This is the one time we can ask the people to let us keep the tax rate,” Lehman said. “We really need the money to move forward; we really need the money to make repairs.”

Residents and officials who want to see the referendum succeed have established the group “Vote Yes for Channahon Parks.”

Referendum needed for growth

This year the Channahon Park District turns 40 years old. It was originally formed in response to a threat from the state of Illinois to close Channahon State Park. The state had no money to continue upkeep at the park, so the Channahon Park District was formed. The state park eventually was turned back to Illinois.

Locally, however, the Channahon Park District property reflects initial assumptions about the village.

“We really thought the village was going to grow eastward toward Joliet,” Lehman said.

Instead, the village grew westward. The two largest village parks, and , are on the far east side and in the middle of the village. In addition to building a larger park on the west end of town, the district would like to build more ball fields, expand walking paths and repair existing park properties and equipment.

“We have to invest in our community, especially as realtors," said Sarah Reiss, a real estate agent and "Vote Yes" member. “I’ve had some buyers say I want Channahon because of the Park District.”

Reiss believes the 5 cents is a small price to pay, even when considering the total tax to the district.

“For $40, I could not take my kids to the movies for that,” she said.