Northbrook School District 27

Board Briefs

Board Briefs: January 9, 2025

Board Approves Referendum Resolution for April 1 Election

During its regular meeting on January 9, 2025, the District 27 Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to place a referendum on the voter ballot during the April 1, 2025, Consolidated Election. If approved by voters, the referendum would establish a debt service extension base (DSEB) of $2.655 million. For the average homeowner ($600,000 assessed home value), this would mean an annual tax increase of $422. Recent community engagement feedback and survey results demonstrated strong support for school improvements focused on safety and security, infrastructure and mechanical upgrades, and classroom technology.

Establishing a DSEB instead of issuing traditional bonds for necessary improvements ensures a long-term funding source, offering a sustainable solution to the District’s immediate and ongoing infrastructure needs. This approach also allows the District to issue bonds as funding is required for specific projects, rather than all at once, thereby reducing interest costs for taxpayers. Community engagement feedback showed overwhelming support for this funding mechanism, with a margin of more than three to one.

In the coming weeks, the District will share more details about this community-driven plan to sustainably address facility needs, further improve school safety, and enhance learning environments for all students. The District is planning a series of open-house meetings where community members can visit the schools and learn more about the proposed improvements. Additionally, a dedicated webpage will be launched, featuring an overview of the referendum, a tax calculator, FAQs, and other helpful resources.