District 21 voters overwhelming support tax increase for building upgrades
Voters on Tuesday gave Wheeling Township Elementary District 21 permission to raise taxes to fund building upgrades.
About 73 percent of voters supported the tax hike with 34 of 37 precincts reporting, according to unofficial results. The district plans to borrow $69 million for facility improvements at all 14 buildings over the course of five summers beginning in 2019. It will cost an extra $78 in property taxes for the owner of an average $300,000 home.
The district first plans to secure school entrances by installing more cameras and exterior lighting, installing air conditioning and updating HVAC systems. Other plans for improvements include outfitting six classrooms for districtwide full-day kindergarten and paving, roofing, plumbing and flooring.
District 21 includes parts of Wheeling, Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights and Northbrook.
- Chacour Koop