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From: Mac McIntyre
Category: General Discussion
Date: 31 Jan 2003
Time: 22:40:05 -0500
Remote Name: 12.251.130.11
According to the Illinois State Board of Education, District #428 spends $6715 per pupil. In state and federal aid, the district receives about $2100 per student. That amount has been decreasing because DeKalb's EAV continues to rise.
A $200,000 new construction home in DeKalb would pay a total of about $6000 in total real estate taxes with about $4,000 of that going to the school district.
So it would appear, at surface, that a $200,000 home would not pay enough taxes to cover the cost of educating a child. That is the spin that is put on the situation by those who spend tax dollars.
However, there are more property tax paying households in DeKalb than there are students in the school system. And every commercial building, store, industrial plant and warehouse, etc., pays significant property tax and, of course, do not send children to schools.
We know that the Hispanic population in DeKalb is growing, just like it is in the rest of the nation. The use of the word "invade" is inappropriate. This country was built by encouraging other countries to send us, "their tired, their hungry and their poor."
The Hispanic people are like every other people I know. They really love their children. Family is the most important thing in life to them. When they cannot afford a home because they make little more than minimum wage they do what is necessary to provide a home for their family. They often, when placed in that situation, do what any other family would do... move in with extended family members and share housing costs.
DeKalb, and this entire area, is in desperate need for more affordable housing. Our mean income is around $38,000. That means most people who live in DeKalb, whether they are white, brown, black, yellow or green cannot afford the housing costs.
The lack of affordable housing is killing DeKalb's economic development efforts to attract employers to DeKalb. DeKalb has lost out for Rayovac, Boise-Cascade, and others to Rochelle and Dixon because of this void in homes priced for "worker-bees."
Real numbers. They are needed. I suggest, that as you work to get the referendum passed, that you ask for real numbers from District #428 administration. Ask how much in impact fees they have collected to date. What are their projections for impact fee revenues for the subdivisions being built and that are in the wings to be built. Ask for real numbers. If you get a straight answer then you are a better man than me.
Until the administration gives real numbers to revenues and expenses then I will wholeheartedly support Mr. Krpan and the many others who oppose this referendum. We owe that to our children.