Flossmoor Says Yes To Infrastructure Bond Referendum

Last updated at 8:50 a.m.

FLOSSMOOR, IL — With more than 80 percent of voters saying yes, residents of Flossmoor are projected to approve a $10 million general obligation bonds referendum for infrastructure improvement in the village.

The bonds will be used for resurfacing and reconstructing streets and sidewalks all over the village. It will also contribute to improvements to stormwater infrastructure used for reducing flooding in the Flossmoor Road viaduct and upstream tributary areas of the Heather Hill, and neighborhood north of Downtown, according to the village.

The question on the ballot was as seen below:

Shall the Village of Flossmoor, Cook County, Illinois, issue General Obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000, said bonds bearing interest at not to exceed the rate of 9.00% per annum, for the purpose of paying the costs of the following infrastructure improvements throughout the Village: street reconstruction, street resurfacing and sidewalk improvements; and storm sewer system improvements including those related to the Flossmoor Road viaduct, and expenses related thereto?

A deluge of mail-in votes cast this election amid the coronavirus pandemic — many of which will not be counted tonight — makes this election unlike any in the past. Officials have two weeks post-election to count all provisional votes.

• It Could Be Weeks Until Illinois Knows Election Results

With all but one precinct counted, more than 80 percent of Flossmoor voters were in favor of the bond referendum.

Flossmoor referendum results

• Yes- 80.33%
• No- 19.67%

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Background

These bonds will be used to finance needed improvements to village infrastructure. According to the village, the $10 million in general obligation bonds would be paid off in 20 years. The bonds would be financed by the village's property tax levy and would replace an $8 million bond issued by the village to build the Flossmoor Public Library, which would be paid off by 2021.

Trustee Diane Williams said that elected officials can only assist in the educational process of the referendum.

"The Flossmoor Village Board is presenting the referendum for approval because the Village of Flossmoor is experiencing significantly increased challenges, as our residents know from experience, with both storm water flooding and road/sidewalk repair needs," Williams said in a statement. "Based on research and engineering recommendations a plan to address those challenges has been developed and the lowest cost vehicle for funding the work has been identified."

Williams refers to the library bond stating "Given that the Library referendum bond is retiring in 2021 issuing the bond at that point means little to no increase in residents' current tax bill. This set of factors encouraged the board to choose 2021 as the time to issue the bonds which requires a referendum on the Nov. 3, 2020 ballot."

Trustee Brian Driscoll said the referendum shouldn't raise taxes in the village.

"The referendum gives residents the opportunity to correct street and sewer problems we have been facing for several years without raising taxes," Driscoll said. "If the referendum is passed it shouldn't raise taxes because we are replacing the old library bond with a new one."

The Village of Flossmoor has held special Zoom, along with in-person, meetings for residents to hear more about the bonds and what they could potentially bring if it is passed after what will be known as a historic election.

Additional information on what the referendum can bring to the village can be seen on the website, here.