CENTER CASS SD 66 REFERENDUM Info – ensuring tax dollars are spent wisely

Making Sure Promises Made are Results Delivered

This site originated to provide information regarding the “Proposition to Increase the Limiting Rate of Center Cass School District 66, DuPage County, Illinois”, that appeared on the June 28, 2022 Primary Election and the November 8, 2022 General Election ballots. The ORIGINAL HOME PAGE AND LINKS have been MOVED and are now located in the “Retired Referendum Home Page Info” post, below. This site will continue to be updated to provide post-referendum information regarding BOE decisions to manage and spend our community’s hard-earned tax dollars. The information provided on this site has been collected through a variety of sources including, but not limited to – the CCSD 66 website, district communications, district meetings, news articles, FOIA requests, DuPage County, the DuPage County Regional Office of Education (ROE), the Illinois State Board or Education (ISBE), interviews, and correspondence with district administration and BOE members. This site was created and is managed by engaged community members who care about and support the students, teachers and staff in the district but believe that affordability and fiscal accountability are required for the long term viability of this district and community. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, or have information you wish to share with our community, please email us at d66info@gmail.com. Please note, unlike other social media outlets, this is a SAFE SPACE so any information you share will be shared confidentially (your name will not appear on this site).

The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. This site is not supported or endorsed by Center Cass SD 66.

The PETITION DEADLINE has ended. See “Join the BOE in ’23” link, below, for information on the upcoming election for the CCSD 66 Board of Education (BOE)

The current, elected BOE Members who make ALL decisions, on behalf of the taxpayers

If you have any questions, issues or concerns, with the decisions made by the BOE members on your behalf, please contact the BOE members directly –

https://www.ccsd66.org/page/members

District 66 – In the News

The following are links to various articles and postings about Center Cass School District 66

The Patch 11/14/22 –

https://patch.com/illinois/darien-il/darien-aldermans-ouster-sought-center-cass-official

The Patch 11/9/22 –

https://patch.com/illinois/darien-il/selfish-tendencies-among-center-cass-voters

The Patch 11/1/22 – FOLLOW MORE MONEY…

https://patch.com/illinois/darien-il/union-cash-still-dominates-center-cass-pro-tax-effort

The Patch 10/21/22 – FOLLOW THE MONEY…

https://patch.com/illinois/darien-il/darien-area-group-admits-errors-finance-report

The Patch 10/20/22 –

“A Darien-area political action committee is still keeping secret where it received $95,000, although the state says it is required to disclose the information. The committee is giving to a group that advocates a nearly 20 percent property tax increase in Center Cass School District 66. The last donation was $15,000, contributed two days ago.”

https://patch.com/illinois/darien-il/darien-area-pac-still-keeps-donors-secret

The Patch 10/18/22 –

https://patch.com/illinois/darien-il/darien-pro-tax-hike-group-union-funded

The Patch 10/17/22 –

https://patch.com/illinois/darien-il/center-cass-fire-alarms-do-job-fire-chief

The Patch 10/7/22 –

https://patch.com/illinois/darien-il/center-cass-tax-backers-paint-grim-picture

The Patch 10/3/22 –

https://patch.com/illinois/darien-il/big-donor-center-cass-pro-tax-hike-group

The latest Chicago Tribune article, featured on the front page of the newspaper on September 27, 2022, highlights the financial and academic incompetence of the district, by their own admission. Nothing will dissuade people more, from buying homes in our district, than to read a long-time teacher state “We have some students reading five grades below…”

Chicago Tribune 9/25/22 –

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-center-cass-school-district-66-finanical-woes-20220925-ulhd3o3awvedhjr4end2asypsy-story.html

A few excerpts are shown below:

“The district boasts three tidy and modern school buildings, enthusiastic teachers, a reputation for academic rigor, and plenty of personal attention for its 1,100 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.”

“problematic budgeting practices have thrown the district into crisis” [NOTE: The Board of Education is 100% responsible for reviewing and approving each and every annual budget]

“The financial meltdown hitting District 66 has been brewing for years”

“90% of the district’s property tax revenue is derived from residential homeowners” [NOTE: With such a heavy dependence on homeowners to support the district, the district should be especially mindful of this tax burden and of every dollar spent, including the $13M the homeowners gave the District in 2017]

“The practice had for years painted an inaccurate picture of the district’s health, failed to acknowledge mounting deficits and depleted reserve funds” [NOTE: The Board of Education is 100% responsible for understanding the district’s finances and making expenditure decisions based on its predictable revenue stream]