Referendum To Fix Flossmoor Infrastructure: Voters Decide

FLOSSMOOR, IL — This general election, residents in the Village of Flossmoor are being asked to decide whether they think the village should enable general obligation bonds for infrastructure improvement in the village.

These bonds would be used to finance improvements to village infrastructure, according to the village. If voters approve the initiative, the bonds would be used for resurfacing and reconstructing streets and sidewalks all over the village and contribute to improvements to stormwater infrastructure used for reducing flooding in the Flossmoor Road viaduct, upstream tributary areas of Heather Hill and neighborhoods north of downtown.

According to the village, if the majority vote to approve this action, $10 million in general obligation bonds would be paid off in 20 years. This bond 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. That bond will be paid off in 2021.

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The village said the decision to have this question on the ballot comes after years of discussions among boards, and the need to resurface and reconstruct many streets scattered around town; along with discussions of major flooding.

If the referendum successfully passes, construction on streets can begin as early as 2021, and the stormwater projects would begin as soon as funding is known, which could also be next year, according to the village.

Officials explained the bonds question to voters on various occasions over Zoom and in person. 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."

Find additional information on the referendum that will appear on the ballot here.

2020 primary election: the basics

• Election date: Nov. 3
• Registration deadline(s): Nov. 3 (in person); Oct. 18 (online)
• Same-day registration: Yes
• Early voting started: Sept. 24 (ends Nov. 2)
• Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Nov. 3 (postmarked); Nov. 17 (received)