The board has prided itself on not raising the property tax levy since the 1990s but members decided it was best to let voters decide.
A referendum question for voters across the county will ask their permission for a 0.025% increase above the current state-mandated Property Tax Extension Limitation Law cap for the district, bringing the limit to 0.076%.
“But important to this referendum is that the Forest Preserves has a reasonable plan that has been vetted” by outside groups, Msall said. Last year, the Forest Preserves Board — made up of members as the Cook County Board — unanimously agreed to put the issue on the ballot. They’ve prided themselves on not raising the county’s property tax levy since the 1990s but agreed letting voters decide was a safe course of action.
Benjamin Cox, executive director of Friends of the Forest Preserves, said Preckwinkle and Randall have led a remarkable turnaround in management and governance in recent years. He applauded their efforts to raise non-property tax revenues and cut costs, including outsourcing the operation of county pools and event spaces.“It’s not that they don’t do anything with footpaths, they just don’t have staff or funding to make those official,” he said.
“There were a lot of things not to be proud of going on. That has changed dramatically. ... I would not have taken this position in this public campaign if I did not feel very confident about the fact that operations are transparent. It’s a whole new world as far as financial reporting, the fact that they actually in this next century conservation plan and invited civic participation,” Paulson said.