Illinois Election Interference

Des Plaines D-62 Offices: Tax Increase Referendum Campaign Headquarters?

Should school district offices be used as campaign headquarters to urge yes votes on a tax increase referendum? This appears to be happening in Des Plaines District 62. D-62 is another example of a district that has no problem using its taxpayer-funded web site to promote the tax increase referendum.

An item on the agenda of the D-62 June 21, 2004, school board meeting included introduction of the leaders of the referendum support committee. In an article that ran in the Daily Herald on June 22, 2004, a phone number is provided for people who would like to join the tax increase referendum support committee. That number is the main phone line to the District 62 offices. Is D-62 providing phone answering services to a political committee? Can a referendum opposition group also have their calls taken at the D-62 offices?

As of September 27, 2004, the D-62 home page contains a link called "Referendum Information". After extolling the virtues of District 62 (including saying that "Over the years, District 62 has provided a great deal of "bang for the buck." The District has utilized its resources in an efficient manner and sought no increase in the Educational Fund rate for 35 years."), the Referendum Information page links to three pdf files.

To a tax increase referendum supporter, the three files are just "providing information" about the situation to voters. While these documents may not cross the line of election interference (it depends on the interpretation), CRAFT has rarely found such documentation to be objective, and providing a complete story. These files are no exception.

After extolling the "long history of responsible financial performance", the first document goes into how the funding formula has changed. It says the CPI (cost of living) increases aren't sufficient to keep up with costs. It then says the tax cap law (which limits tax rate increases to the CPI or 5%, whichever is less) demands a new responsibility of citizens, "by giving the community a chance to voice their support of public education." Most tax increase referendum ballot questions ask the voter whether the tax rate should be increased, not whether the voter supports public education.

The Frequently Asked Questions page contains several pieces of "information" that also appear in the FAQs put out by other districts about their tax increase referendums. These would include things like "My taxes go up every year. Why can't the school district survive on that increase." (which talks about the tax cap, mentioned above), and "Wasn't the state lottery supposed to help fund education?" D-62's FAQ also discusses "remaining competitive with other school districts.", which is interesting in a monopoly situation. And would some voters take "Approval of a November referendum will mean that the District can avoid additional instructional staff layoffs and increased class sizes." as a threat, thereby encouraging a yes vote?

The "Financial Facts" page says "The only means for District 62 to gain additional local revenue is through a voter-approved referendum." We wonder if educational foundations, corporate partnerships, and other sources of funding that other government school districts have employed are not possible in District 62 for some reason. Again, the D-62 main phone number is used as the place to call for more information about the tax increase referendum.

Daily Herald article, June 22, 2004

All systems go as District 62 launches referendum mission

By Erin Holmes Daily Herald Staff Writer Posted Tuesday, June 22, 2004

Among the final steps in the detailed referendum plan of attack handed to Des 
Plaines Elementary District 62 board members Monday was a simple, optimistic 
order: "Celebrate!"

That's on the agenda for November, after the votes are cast. But there are 
plenty of to-dos between now and then, and the school board Monday sunk its 
teeth into some of them - welcoming the three co-chairs of a referendum steering 
committee, OK'ing a contract for a community survey and reviewing an exhaustive 
list of ways to spread the facts about the looming tax hike request.

"We need to make sure all of our staff and our parents and our partners are 
on the same page," district spokesperson Mindy Ward told the board. Former 
district board member James Blue, Wheeling Elementary District 21 employee and 
District 62 parent Julie Luck-Jensen and World War II veteran and community 
member Vincent Powers have stepped up to lead the referendum push as co-chairs 
of the campaign steering committee.

Together with volunteers, they'll help raise funds, get the word out in the 
community with phone calls, local cable commercials and yard signs and work on 
voter registration, among numerous other tasks.

Also aiding the effort will be a telephone survey conducted by Lemont-based 
Dave Fako and Associates. The board Monday approved shelling out no more than 
$11,000 for the roughly 10-minute, 30-question survey in early July, which will 
solicit opinions from 300 residents to gauge attitude about the district, its 
schools and finances. The data will be delivered to the school board in 
mid-July.

The board this spring agreed to seek a tax increase request. The exact amount 
of the hike will be discussed in August. Should the effort prove successful, the 
extra cash would be plugged into a fledgling education fund, which helps pay for 
things like teacher salaries, school programs and materials.

Anyone wishing to volunteer for the referendum effort can contact the 
district's main office, 777 W. Algonquin Road in Des Plaines, at (847) 824-1136.

For more information on these web pages or to submit examples of election interference in your district, contact Citizens for Reasonable and Fair Taxes.

CRAFT believes public school funds or resources should *not* be used to educate the public on political issues.

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