North Cook News

Voters in Evanston/Skokie School District 65 overwhelming approved increasing their property taxes in support of the school district on Tuesday.

The referendum earned 80.45 percent of the votes, or nearly 15,000 of the approximately 18,500 votes cast. The measure is expected to increase the average property tax amount in Evanston from $8,076 to approximately $8,546.

The district 65 school board resolved to put the referendum on the ballot in January following a year of deliberations regarding impending financial shortfalls. Prior to the vote, the district was facing a cumulative deficit of $112 million by 2025 if it continued operating with the same spending projections, which it attributed to increasing enrollments and costs and limited revenue.

The district framed the referendum as an opportunity for taxpayers to take part in the tough decision it faced: increase revenue or enact reductions, including cutting spending by $8.8 million over the next two years.

The funding from the increased limiting rate will allow the school district to raise an additional $14.5 million from property tax revenue. This plugs the school district’s deficit and allows the district to cover costs associated with instruction, student support services, capital and financial investments and other operations.