As Effingham Unit 40 eyes a $55 million building project that could raise property taxes between 8% and 14%, district residents are trying to spur a referendum on the issue.
“The whole discussion about ‘should the students have this or should teachers get paid more’ – that’s not part of this discussion,” said Shannon McClurg, who has organized a petition drive for the referendum. “This discussion is just about taxing the local community without putting it out for referendum.”
That discussion comes after Effingham County voters in November rejected for the fourth time a 1% County Schools Facilities sales tax that would have funded such projects.
“The proposal back then was the first year to drop property taxes 10% if it passed,” said Unit 40 Superintendent Andrew Johnson. “If you remember when we were back in the fall, this board was committed to dropping property taxes 10% and doing the project. Instead, we’re six months later, and now we have the same needs and the only option we have on the table is exactly what we’re doing.”
District officials want to upgrade and build new facilities in a $55 million project that would fund a new K-2 building with a gym for $45.3 million, upgrade South Side School for $3.7 million, renovate Central Grade School for $1.8 million and upgrade parking lots for $4.2 million.
In order to fund this project, the school board must raise property taxes in the Unit 40 school district so the it can purchase and then pay off two bonds to pay for the work.
“I don’t like increasing property taxes and it’s the last thing that I want to do, but I also have a responsibility to this community and these kids and their futures,” Johnson said. “If we want to attract and get growth, how do you attract someone to your community if you’re not progressive?”
Board of Education President Jill Wendling agreed.
“We’re just trying to do what’s best for kids in our community,” Wendling said.
The vision for these future upgrades and facilities originated from community engagement sessions Unit 40 organized for the public between February and April 2024. Community members, students, teachers, staff, administrators, parents, board members and more attended these sessions, said Wendling.
“That [vision] comes from community collaboration and from the voices within our buildings from our teachers, our staff, our administrators, our parents. We surveyed the community,” said Wendling. “I believe when we had those visionary meetings, we had members of our Chamber of Commerce in on those meetings, so it wasn’t just seven people on the board coming up with that list.”
Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 4582 into law last year which allows schools to build or purchase buildings that will increase pre-kindergarten or kindergarten classroom space in the school district without needing a referendum.
However, Unit 40 legally had to publish two notices of intent, one for each bond, which then allows registered voters living in the Unit 40 school district to sign petitions to possibly get the issue of raising property taxes on the March 17, 2026 ballot.
The petitions need to be signed by at least 10% of registered voters living in the Unit 40 school district for the school board to consider other options for the project. The petitions also must be submitted on or before June 23, according to Johnson.
If there are enough eligible signatures, Johnson said the board would likely choose one of two options: place the issue on the March ballot or abandon the project.
Shannon McClurg started a Facebook group called “We the People – Effingham, IL” after she spoke with some neighbors that don’t want their property taxes to increase without a say.
Since then, McClurg has helped organize several petition signings for those who want their voices heard.
Local residents Ken and Barb Krantz visited a petition signing on June 4 because they don’t want their property taxes to increase.
“We’re taxed to death in this county,” said Ken Krantz.
Ed Shouse, another local resident, also signed the petition that day. Shouse doesn’t have children in the Unit 40 school district, but he also doesn’t want his property taxes to increase.
“I think we’re overtaxed in this state, and they’re wanting to add more taxes here,” said Shouse.
More petition signing events are planned for the following dates and times:
June 14: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Shelby Realty, 901 N. Keller DriveJune 14: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Drave’s Complex Flea Market, 1707 Avenue of Mid AmericaJune 15: to be determinedJune 16: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Shelby Realty, 901 N. Keller DriveJune 17: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Shelby Realty, 901 N. Keller DriveJune 18: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Shelby Realty, 901 N. Keller Drive
The next Unit 40 board meeting is scheduled for June 23.
More details can be found on the “We the People – Effingham, IL” Facebook page and on Unit 40’s website.