Troy 30-C Voters Reject 45-Cent School Tax Increase
Property owners in Joliet, Shorewood, and Plainfield voted 54.3 percent against the referendum that would have preserved staffing levels and funded safety improvements.
By Anthony Foster ·
Troy 30-C School District voters rejected a proposed tax increase on Tuesday.
The measure, which sought to raise the limiting rate by 45 cents, failed to win a majority of the vote. According to the Will County Clerk's election website, 5,915 residents voted in favor of the proposal. That accounted for 45.7 percent of the total ballots cast. The opposing side received 7,030 votes, or 54.3 percent. A total of 12,945 votes were recorded in the election.
The referendum was designed to address operating and facility needs. District officials stated that 20 years had passed since the last voter-approved funding request. The administration noted that most schools in the district are currently over their intended student capacity. Enrollment is projected to surpass 4,000 students within four years. Officials attributed this growth largely to new housing developments in the area.
Superintendent Paul Schrik campaigned for the measure. The district website explained that the final 45-cent rate was 35 percent lower than originally planned. This reduction followed community input and was intended to result in no net tax rate increase. The district argued that the funds were necessary to prevent cuts to teacher and educational support staff. The money would also maintain academic and extracurricular programs and keep class sizes stable.
The proposal included funds for facility improvements related to safety and security. Troy school officials clarified that the revised plan dropped the construction of a new early childhood education center. It also removed planned renovations to the middle school. The ballot question asked if the limiting rate for the Troy Community Consolidated School District Number 30-C should be increased by 0.4500 percent above the current limiting rate for levy year 2025.
The new rate would equal 3.6241 percent of the equalized assessed value of taxable property for levy year 2026. The district stated that the funds would support educational programming, instruction, and the maintenance and construction of school buildings. Election results remain unofficial until certified by election authorities.
