The referendum process in Illinois has never been very powerful, but voter initiatives do have consequences for taxpayers in many school districts in the State. In New Trier Township, voters are being asked to increase their own taxes to pay for a (budgeted) $175 Million teardown and capital improvements to New Trier High School.

Fair enough, the question is an important one to go to the voters of the district to decide how they want to spend their own money. There are always reasons to improve facilities, though increasing property taxes in a huge real estate downturn seems suicidal. A recent mailer promised electronic whiteboards if the referendum is passed, which must be what is holding New Trier back from providing a legit education.

However, the campaign has all of the insider trading of the worst of any public project in Chicago. Take a glance at the New Trier High School website for some “myths and facts” about the New Trier Referendum. It turns out all the “facts”, per the school website author, point toward raising taxes. Oddly enough all the “myths” point towards holding taxes the same.

Just as a statistical exercise, shouldn’t some of the facts point towards routine maintenance and gradual improvement in technology? It seems much more likely that “facts” (much in the mode the AP’s fact checkers) are simply matters of opinion that may merit discussion, but do not have a definite grounding as indisputable truths. In which case, New Trier High School is actively campaigning on one side of a referendum issue which effects…New Trier High School.

People of good will can certainly disagree on a tax increase which projects to improve education. But the law in Illinois is pretty clear that it is a criminal offense to spend taxpayer money to campaign on one side of a referendum issue. Legality aside (there are not a lot of people serving time at the MCC for hijacking tax referendums), it is unethical and anti-democratic for a government run institution to engage in partisan politics under the guise of improving education.

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For 10 years or so I had the distinct displeasure of living across a very small Forest Preserve from Cook County Board member Larry Sufferdin. Larry himself was a good enough neighbor, albeit one with a high volume of politcal yard signs being distributed to all comers. The Forest Preserve, however, was a disaster. Literally, tons of garbage, tires, furniture, capret, car parts.. were being dumped in the Woods with overflowing garbage cans and minimal cleanup by Cook County.

I made a a reasonable effort to not only pick up the garbage in the Forest Preserve, but also remind Commissioner Sufferdin that it was the ultimate responsibility of the County to keep the pollution down to a reasonable level. After about 5 calls, Commissioner Sufferdin called me back and explained that “(John) Stroger hates me. He won’t do anything that I ask him. You’re better off picking up the garbage yourself.”

About par for the course in Cook County, I suppose, but it was truly distressing that after the timely death of John Stroger, Commissioner Sufferdin littered his own yard with Todd Stroger signs, and sent a letter (also signed by Barack Obama and Dick Durbin) endorsing the Stroger heir for Cook County Board President.

On a related note, since mid 2008, the Chicago Tribune has been relentless in running a “Sales Tax Calendar” telling us they have been “counting the days since the County Board imposed the 1-percentage-point tax increase that enraged citizens. And it has been counting the days until you can do something about that.

Check the calendar. It’s 16 days until Election Day. Early voting has already opened. It’s time to fix Cook County.”

Excellent, finally a chance to rollback taxes and toss out the incumbents who brought us the tax increase, including Larry Sufferdin, the Commissioner who brokered the hike to begin with. So I am still scratching my head at the Tribune’s endorsement of the same Larry Sufferdin for re-election.

Outside of 435 N. Michigan, if you are opposed to someone, you would not endorse that person for re-election. The Sales Tax countdown, while an interesting piece of technology, means nothing if we bring back the same lame Commisioners who caused the mess in Cook County to begin with.

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John Powers is the President of the Chicago Daily Observer.  His opposition to Larry Sufferdin is his own, and does not reflect the opinion of the Chicago Daily Observer

image Rusty Radiator at New Trier High School.  Estimated paint costs:  $7.49