By HOI ABC

NORMAL – A former state lawmaker, working as a paid consultant for the Unit 5 School District, intends to give the school board options this summer about a possible tax hike referendum.

Ed Sullivan Jr., a former Republican state representative from the Chicago suburbs, said at Wednesday night’s school board meeting that options include asking voters, perhaps this November, for higher property taxes to close massive structural deficits in the education fund. Sullivan suggested referendum amounts of about $11 million, $13 million, or $17 million.

Board President Barry Hitchins was skeptical the dollar amounts discussed will be enough to close budget gaps for the McLean County’s largest school district.

“$11 million or $13 million will help us in year one, but we’re back to where we have to start looking at what are some of the negative effects,” said Hitchins, referring to possible staffing and program cuts, and increased class sizes.

Based on community surveys, Sullivan said voters might not go for higher dollar amounts.

“Beyond $17 million, I wouldn’t go there,” said Sullivan.

Hitchins said the district should not “undersell” the idea that the board would have to close a school building in a cost-cutting move.

Sullivan said proposed referendum dollar amounts might be lower if the district can identify other revenue sources.

Sulllivan plans to finalize referendum options in August.

Unit 5 is paying Sullivan $60,000 for consulting work and $10,000 for conducting community surveys.