Parents in McLean County hear from school board candidates on tax referendum & budget deficit

Posted on February 13, 2023

By 25 News

BLOOMINGTON – Candidates for this April’s election for the school board had the opportunity to give their viewpoints to parents Saturday morning.

One of the hot-button issues is the referendum for a tax hike.

If passed it will increase the tax rate cap.

The referendum on the April ballot calls for an 88-cent increase to the education fund tax rate to take effect in the fiscal year 2025 and 2026.

Also brought up was the millions of dollars in deficit Unit 5 is currently operating in and how they think they can help balance the budget.

(WJBC File Photo)

District 87 has four candidates running for three open positions.

For Unit 5, there are nine people running for four open positions.

Former Chairman of the McLean County Republican Party and current McLean County Board Member Chuck Erickson helped put on this meet and greet and says it provides parents a way to have a conversation with new potential leadership.

”It’s good to sit here and talk to the candidates one on one which you get the opportunity to do here before the event and after the event to say ‘is this someone I feel comfortable putting them in charge of education in Mclean county,’” says Erickson.

The election is on April 4th and each candidate today was allowed to speak for 3 minutes before they entered a question and answer period with the audience.

25 News can be reached at [email protected].

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