Ballots in the mail for ISD 166 voter approved operating levy renewal
Election ballots are in the mail for many Cook County voters. Among the items on the ballot is the ISD 166 voter-approved operating levy renewal.
In 2016, Cook County voters approved an operating levy of $800 per pupil. The current operating levy is set to expire in December 2022.
Rather than increasing the levy, the school district proposes to retain the $800 per pupil amount and extend it for ten years. The levy supplies the district with approximately $350,000 to $400,000 of annual revenue. Superintendent Chris Lindholm said that the school board’s goal is to provide stability. He added, “We want to be stable and be able to have our same programming from year to year.”
Lindholm said that the existing operating levy amount ensures that the school district provides smaller class sizes in primary and secondary grades, elective opportunities, and extracurricular activities. In addition, the levy supports four to six teaching positions.
Throughout October, Lindholm hosted five informational sessions in Cook County to provide voters with further information and address questions and concerns. He said the number one question he received was, “What happens if the levy doesn’t pass?”
If Cook County voters do not pass the proposed levy renewal, Lindholm said the school board would have to figure out how to reduce the budget by $350,000 to $400,000, which could result in a reduction of multiple teaching positions, departments, and elective opportunities for students.
Lindholm added that school districts across the state typically have ten year operating levies. He said asking to extend the levy by ten years is “very fair and really supportive of our students and the things that we want for students here in Cook County.”
More information about the operating levy and overall local school taxes can be found on the school district website or contact the school at 218-387-2271.
WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Lindholm about the 2022 voter-approved operating levy. Audio from the interview is below.
Kalli Hawkins October 13, 2022
