(Patty Wetli / WTTW News)
Nature was on the ballot in several suburban counties, with forest preserve and conservations districts in DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry asking for funding increases to support land acquisition, habitat restoration and ongoing maintenance.
Advance polling showed that forest preserves have an extremely high approval rating among voters, and while times are challenging economically, people generally seemed willing to contribute a few extra dollars per month to support green spaces, said Brook McDonald, president and CEO of the Conservation Foundation, which is supporting the campaigns in DuPage and Kane counties.
“Even people who don’t use the forest preserves like the idea they exist,” McDonald said.
The worry among the referenda’s advocates was that voters would fill out the top of their ballots and call it a day.
“It’s a very noisy political season,” said Abby Beck, vice president of advancement with the Conservation Foundation. “The worst thing would be high voter turnout, but voters don’t scroll down to where the local ballot questions exist.”
In Kane County, voters are leaning toward supporting the tax increase, with 55% in favor of the measure, according to unofficial results.
It’s a squeaker in McHenry County, where, as of Wednesday morning, with all precincts reporting, the "no" votes had slight edge over those in favor of a tax increase: 50.09% against versus 49.91 in favor.
In DuPage County, voters appear to be in favor of a proposed tax increase in early returns with 63% in favor versus 37% against, according to unofficial results.
Preliminary results indicate Lake County voters have seemingly approved a bond issuance by a whopping two-to-one margin: 67% in favor versus 33% against, with all precincts reporting.
Here was the question in front of voters:
DuPage County forest preserves — 0.035% property tax increase.
Kane County forest preserves — 0.029163% tax increase.
Lake County forest preserves — $155 million bond issuance.
McHenry County conservation district — 0.027% tax increase.
With the outcome too close to call in McHenry County, the conservation district remains “cautiously optimistic as we patiently await the final results,” said spokeswoman Caitlynn Martinez-McWhorter in an email to WTTW News.
“With such a narrow margin — just a fraction of a percentage point — it is essential that every vote is counted, including late arriving vote by mail and provisional ballots,” she said. “Every vote counts, and we are hopeful for an outcome that reflects our community’s commitment to protecting our water, wildlife and way of life.”
The other districts thanked voters for their support and vowed to put the resources to work for a greener, healthier future.
“We’re ready to: restore additional habitats, buy and protect more land, build important trail connections, improve water and air quality, and reduce flooding,” Lake County Forest Preserves posted to Facebook.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
