Effingham residents mobilize against $57M school bond, citing new state
law
[July 08, 2025]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – Effingham County residents are sending a strong
message to state and local officials: no new school taxes without a
public vote.
After learning of a $57 million bond proposal by Effingham Unit 40
School District that could raise property taxes by up to 17%, local
organizer Shannon McClurg helped lead a grassroots effort to stop it in
its tracks.
“Our message was simple: you don’t get to raise our taxes without a
referendum,” McClurg said. “It’s not about whether schools need repairs.
We’re willing to talk about that. But you don’t get to bypass the
voters.”
The community-driven petition campaign saw more than 100 volunteers go
door-to-door, set up stations at local businesses, and spread the word
online. McClurg turned in nearly 3,000 signatures where 1,500 were
required.
The petition is to put the issue before the people during the next
election.
“We didn’t have $30,000 in campaign donations like the group pushing the
1% sales tax in the past. We had $146, some grit, and neighbors helping
neighbors,” McClurg said.
According to McClurg the school board is weighing whether to rescind the
bonds or put them on the March 2026 ballot. If no resident objects, the
board may drop the plan entirely.
WCIA reports Effingham School Board President Jim Welding issued a
statement.
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“The district wishes to thank the community for its work on these
petitions and for its interest in the district’s bonds and
facilities work,” Welding said. “Going forward, the board will
consider at an upcoming meeting whether to submit these bond
propositions to the voters or whether to abandon these bonds and
look for other ways to finance the district’s facilities needs.”
A 2024 law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker raised the bar for
triggering referendums on school borrowing. McClurg said she was
shocked to hear about Unit 40 School District posting a notice of
intent to issue two bonds.
“The community already voted down a 1% sales tax just months ago,
and now they’re trying to raise property taxes without asking the
voters,” said McClurg.
The state’s $23.4 billion in school district debt statewide—about
$12,600 per student, according to Wirepoints—is a major concern for
McClurg. Many fear that making it easier to bypass voters will only
worsen Illinois’ already high property tax burden, which is among
the highest in the nation.
“If it can happen here, it can happen anywhere,” McClurg warned.
“And if other communities don’t stand up, they might not even know
they’ve been taxed until the bill arrives.”
Critics say the law lets officials take on debt without voter input
while supporters argue it streamlines school funding.
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