What follows was read by Tower Lakes Village President Andy Hay on behalf of BACOG members at last night’s District 220 Board of Education meeting during public comment:
“Dear President and members of the Barrington 220 Board of Education,
Thank you for the opportunity to address the Barrington 220 Board of Education regarding the potential new Lake County School Facilities Tax that will be on the ballots this November.
The Barrington Area Council Of Governments, BACOG, represents local governments across four counties in Northeast Illinois, including nearly all of District 220.
We write today as a united region to advocate for the interest of all of our residents.
We recognize the pressures you face as a unit of local government to provide strong services and quality facilities while managing rising costs.
However, BACOG respectfully urges you to avoid promoting approval of this sales tax increase, even implicitly.
Now is not the time to ask our residents to approve a higher sales tax. Affordability concerns are very real.
The proposed sales tax would raise costs for all families buying goods in Lake County, including essential goods, regardless of their income level or ability to absorb the increased expenses.
This burden would come when families are already facing high inflation and the resulting rapid rise in the cost of living.
BACOG recommends that the District public statements focus on its track record of good stewardship and how it uses existing available resources to meet its student’s needs.
We urge you to clearly state that the District is not actually seeking approval of this referendum.
If you publicize the projects and services that would be funded by the new tax, give equal attention to the increased cost of goods.
You should only suggest the property tax reduction if you are willing to commit to providing one.
Better yet, express your appreciation for the support of the community already shown the District when it approved the two recent referendums.
If the countywide tax increase is approved, District 220 will face crucial decisions regarding the use of funds distributed to our region.
BACOG urges you to treat this as an alternative funding source for education that reduces reliance on property taxes rather than viewing it as an additional funding.
To do so is imperative, that the property tax assessed by the District be reduced in an amount that corresponds to the Sales Tax revenue received.
To clarify, the new revenue would come, at least in part, from our resident’s pocket, should not be treated as bonus money and simply added to your operating budget.
BACOG strongly recommends that you choose the option articulated in the referendum’s terms of debt reduction and tax abatement for our residents.
If this tax is approved, our residents will not be able to avoid paying more for their family’s essential goods, but you do have the ability to reduce the burden born by those same taxpayers.
Notably, the District did not identify a missing or inadequate service in 2026 that would cause it to affirmatively ask the community for increased funding.
When there was such a need in 2020 and 2024, the voters in District 220 answered the calls to financially support extensive infrastructure improvements and agreed to increase property tax bills.
This is your opportunity to recognize that support and acknowledge the additional funding is not needed to sustain the current high quality of District 220 operations.
As a result, the District should direct any funds received through this new tax to reduce the outstanding debt and provide a corresponding property tax abatement.
Thank you for your consideration and support of Barrington area students and their families.
We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue further and work together with the Board of Education and District staff on behalf of our residents.
We all have a responsibility to manage public funds that our entrusted to us with care.
Through our collective efforts and investments, we can insure the continued viability and livability of our region.
And it’s signed by all the members of the towns of BACOG.
Thank you for your consideration.”
The link to the reading of the letter can be found here.
The Lake County School Facilities Tax referendum wording reads:
“Proposition To Impose County School Sales Tax
Shall a retailers’ occupation tax and a service occupation tax (commonly referred to as a sales tax) be imposed in The County of Lake, Illinois, at a rate of 1% to be used exclusively for school facility purposes, school resource officers, and mental health professionals?”
