1. How did the referendum affect the school portion of my May 2008 tax bill?
The April 2007 referendum ballot question was as follows: Shall the limiting rate under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law for Aurora West School District Number 129, Kane County, Illinois, be increased by an additional amount equal to .50% above the limiting rate for levy year 2005 and be equal to 3.52739% of the equalized assessed value of the taxable property therein for levy years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010?
Voters approved the referendum and the limiting rate is locked in at 3.527389 starting in levy year 2007 (the year that applies to your May 2008 tax bill).
If you look for evidence of this on your tax bill, it can be confusing because the limiting rate is not shown separately. Rather, it is combined with the bond and interest rate of 0.597769 for a total of 3.98398, the number you see on the tax bill.
Also, the May 2008 tax bill only goes back one year, so the 3.02739 limiting rate for levy year 2005 that was referred to on the referendum ballot is not shown. That can be confusing to people who are trying to calculate from the tax bill alone how the referendum affected their taxes.
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| District 129 Rates |
Rate 200525% |
Rate 2006 |
Rate 2007 |
Other |
2.883624 |
2.796354 |
3.386211 |
Pension |
0.143766 |
0.145796 |
0.141178 |
Operating Rate (limiting rate) |
3.02739 |
2.94215 |
3.527389 |
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Bond and Interest |
0.65116 |
0.621372 |
0.597769 |
Total District Rate |
3.67855 |
3.563522 |
4.125158 |
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2. The referendum ballot stated that the approximate amount of the additional tax for the 2007 levy year, compared to the 2005 levy year would be approximately $166.67 on a single family residence with a fair market value of $100,000. Is that what happened?
Yes. From the 2005 levy year limiting rate, $1,009 was collected per $100,000 fair market value. From the 2007 levy year, $1,176 is being collected.
However, the net school district increase actually is less than that -- $148 instead of $167 -- because the district refinanced its bonds, which cut the bond and interest rate and will save residents $2.7 million in tax payments over the term of the bond.
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| District 129 general obligation bond savings summary |
Principal and interest due on bonds prior to refinancing |
$34,200,309 |
Principal and interest due after refinancing in 2008 |
$31,499,429 |
Principal and interest savings for taxpayers |
$2,700,880 |
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3. Given the downturn in the housing market, I assume the assessed value of my home did not appreciate, correct?
Incorrect.
Actually, township assessors increased assessed values of homes in this area during the past year. It is our understanding that current assessed values were calculated using averages from 2004, 2005 and 2006.
If you look for evidence of this on your tax bill, you will not find it. The year-to-year change in the assessed value of your home is missing. Unfortunately, this lack of information has led many to assume incorrectly that assessed values did not rise because of the housing market downturn.
However, you can view the change in your home’s assessed value online at http://www.co.kane.il.us/webapps/SOA/kane.htm or call your township assessor’s office.
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History of the district's average assessed value increases (excluding new construction) for each year 2004-07 |
From 2004 to 2005 |
9.04% |
From 2005 to 2006 |
9.51% |
From 2006 to 2007 |
5.73% |
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4. Did the school district state that increased assessed values would increase the amount of the school portion of the tax bill?
Yes, state referendum law required the school district to spell out to voters on the referendum ballot how increased assessments could affect the limiting rate portion of the tax bill. The ballot stated:
(3) Based upon an average annual percentage increase in the market value of such
property of 6.31%, the approximate amount of the additional tax extendable
against such property for the 2008 levy year is estimated to be $249.90 for the
2009 levy year is estimated to be $319.82, and for the 2010 levy year is estimated
to be $403.72.
5. How does School District 129’s limiting tax rate of 3.527389 compare to other school districts?
Even with the voter-approved increase, School District 129 still ranks near the bottom in school limiting rate taxes.
(We will add other area districts as soon as we receive the information.
6. What improvements in student learning are occurring because of the referendum passage?
Referendum passage was critical to the implementation of “Vision 129,” the school district’s comprehensive plan to produce better-educated students. The plan calls for powerful teaching and learning, safe and secure facilities, fiscal responsibility and active community involvement.
Voter approval of the April 2007 referendum allowed the district to begin improving student learning immediately, even though the new limiting rate would not be effective until spring of 2008. See the full Vision 129 checklist at www.sd129.org. In the areas of safe and secure facilities and teaching and learning, here are the district’s actions since passage of the referendum:
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| Vision 129 checklist |
| Date |
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Safe and Secure Facilities |
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Improved Teaching and Learning |
Apr-07 |
Voters approve Referendum |
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May-07 |
Discussion begins on the ADA Accessibility Audit |
Implement the Waubonsee Community College Dunham Academy Program where 25 West High seniors will earn one year of college credit |
May-07 |
Begin West High gym floor replacement |
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Jun-07 |
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Middle schools accepted into IMSA E2K math and science after-school enrichment program |
Jun-07 |
Approve asbestos abatement for Freeman, Hall, Nicholson and West High |
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Jul-07 |
Approve bids for ceiling restoration at Nicholson Elementary School |
Approve new West High Science textbooks for biology, honors chemistry, honors biology, geology/meteorology, chemistry in the community, anatomy and physiology and chemistry |
Jul-07 |
Approve asbestos abatement bids at Smith Elementary School |
Install new West High science equipment, including LCD projectors for the Biology program and a classroom polling system |
Jul-07 |
Replace outdated intercom system at Schneider. |
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Jul-07 |
Begin seal coating refresh cycle for parking lots |
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Aug-07 |
Begin West High painting refresh cycle |
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Aug-07 |
Principals and administrators receive FEMA training in the National Incident Command System |
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Aug-07 |
Approve floor tile and mastic replacement for Smith Elementary School |
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Sep-07 |
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Strengthen gifted education including clustering K-8 students, increasing middle school math enrichment sections and training teachers to better prepare middle school students for high school Advanced Placement classes |
Sep-07 |
Make repairs to Freeman, Hall, Nicholson and Smith |
Evaluate preschool programs |
Sep-07 |
Install portable classrooms at four overcrowded schools -- Fearn, McCleery, Hill and Nicholson |
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Sep-07 |
Community volunteers fund, build Hope Wall track, garden, playscape |
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Oct-07 |
Authorize installation of West High security cameras and electronic locking system |
Two teachers earn National Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards |
Oct-07 |
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Approve Advanced Placement English textbooks for West High |
Nov-07 |
Approve contract for West High hot water tank replacement |
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Dec-07 |
Approve purchase of two 14-passenger activity buses and ten 71-passenger buses |
Start middle school engineering clubs in partnership with Northern Illinois University |
Dec-07 |
Approve bid for 50 digital video recording systems for school buses |
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Jan-08 |
Approve AT&T as the district fiber network provider |
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Jan-08 |
Approve bid for Freeman mold abatement |
Start enrichment classes for 20 high-achieving elementary students in partnership with Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development. |
Jan-08 |
Purchase lightning detectors for use on playgrounds, sporting events and field trips |
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Jan-08 |
Install West High security system |
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Feb-08 |
Install Transportation area security system |
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Feb-08 |
Install emergency, district-wide radio system. |
Approve new science textbooks and support materials for kindergarten through fifth-grade |
Feb-08 |
Approve Greenman security system |
Present new Gifted Continuum of services to include enrichment pull-out for grades 4-5 and the development of a gifted academy for grades 3-8 |
Mar-08 |
Approve Freeman ventilation and drainage bids |
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Mar-08 |
Community group helps develop Greenman security |
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Mar-08 |
Install video surveillance equipment in school buses |
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Mar-08 |
Receive the first of 10 new school buses with 14 additional buses to arrive this summer |
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Apr-08 |
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Start at Hope Wall a new Special Olympics program for younger children with intellectual disabilities |
Apr-08 |
Approve administration office security system |
Add five additional West High college-level AP courses--Language and Composition, Music Theory , Studio Art, Physics B and Art History (to begin in 2009-2010) |
Apr-08 |
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Approve new middle school science textbooks and related materials |
Apr-08 |
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Approve West High 8-period-day for 2008-09 |
May-08 |
Schools receive Thunderbolt lightning detectors |
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Summer 2008 |
Install Jefferson portable classrooms |
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Summer 2008 |
Renovate eight West High student restrooms |
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Summer 2008 |
Partial replacement of failed roof at Lincoln |
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Summer 2008 |
Replace West High chair lifts |
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Summer 2008 |
Remove asbestos in several locations |
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Summer 2008 |
Demolish two houses on Randall |
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