FAQs
The CUSD 10 school board is asking residents to vote on a proposed zero-rate-change proposal. If approved, will fund approximately $2.3 million annually in facility improvements in our schools and will fund facility improvements and address safety and security needs throughout the district. The Collinsville CUSD 10 ballot proposal will not change the tax rate. Another $7 million in funding from other available resources will be included.
By law, the proposal must appear on the ballot in this form:
Shall the maximum annual tax rate for operations and maintenance purposes for the Collinsville Community Unit School District 10, Madison and St. Clair Counties, Illinois, be increased and established at 0.72 percent upon all taxable property of said School District at the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, instead of 0.50 percent, the present maximum rate otherwise applicable to the next taxes to be extended for said purposes?
It is important to remember that while the ballot wording talks about an increase, because of the tax transfer and the lowering of the rate paid for debt retirement, the total tax rate for the district will not change. Therefore, homeowners will not experience a tax-rate-change from the school district.
This funding path, chosen by the Board of Education, will not change the tax rate if approved by voters. The Board has proposed a financial strategy known as a tax transfer, which involves reallocating existing funds without raising overall taxes. This plan would retire bonds from the early 2000s to provide funding for an increase in the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Fund rate from 50 cents to 72 cents. Essentially, the money previously used to pay off the old bonds would be redirected to the O&M Fund. This shift allows the district to invest in critical facility needs without incurring new debt or paying additional interest, as the total tax rate remains unchanged. This method leverages existing resources more efficiently to address the district's requirements.
So while the ballot language reads a tax rate increase, because of this transfer, the total tax rate paid to the district does not change.
No. Not only does the proposal not change the district’s bond and interest property rate, that rate will actually be lowered. The proposal is structured to allow the district to invest more in critical facility needs without incurring new debt or paying additional interest. With the transfer, the total tax rate remains unchanged. That’s why we call it a zero-tax-rate-change proposal.
A tax transfer is a financial strategy, which involves reallocating existing funds without raising overall taxes. If approved by voters, this plan would retire bonds from the early 2000s to provide funding for an increase in the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Fund rate from 50 cents to 72 cents. Essentially, the money previously used to pay off the old bonds would be redirected to the O&M Fund. This shift allows the district to invest more in critical facility needs without incurring new debt or paying additional interest, as the total tax rate remains unchanged. This method leverages existing resources more efficiently to address the district's requirements.
Each year in December, the Board of Education approves a tax levy for the district. The tax levy usually includes an adjustment to account for inflation and anticipated expenses for the coming year. This proposal is a zero-tax-rate-change.
Property values rise and fall annually based on the economy and home sales which are out of the school district’s control. However, the Board of Education is committed to improving school facilities, without an increase in the tax rate. Collinsville CUSD #10 has the lowest tax rate in Madison County, absent any school districts with a refinery.
CUSD evaluated all district facilities focusing on educational needs, safety and security, accessibility and heating and cooling systems. A variety of sources provided information, including our community. The district worked with architects, engineers and other experts who identified the most critical needs in our schools. We heard that there are facility needs that must be addressed as soon as possible. We also heard that if at all possible, the needs should be addressed without a tax rate increase.
Beginning in the fall of 2023, KAHOKS CONNECT was created to gather input from a broad base of parents, employees and residents of the Collinsville Community Unit School District #10.
KAHOKS CONNECT is a team of parents, community members, and school staff dedicated to working with the Collinsville community to plan for the future of the Collinsville CUSD 10 facilities. The team received its official charge from the Collinsville Board of Education.
KAHOKS CONNECT hosted a series of building tours (11 tours at separate CUSD 10 schools) in October 2023. During these community engagement events, nearly 200 participants toured Collinsville schools and provided feedback on priorities and recommendations to improve CUSD 10 facilities. Participants shared their thoughts on:
- The current condition of CUSD 10 facilities;
- Facility needs that stood out; and
- Priorities for additional facility needs.
The participants’ ideas and suggestions collected at each building tour provided important information for KAHOKS CONNECT’s final recommendations. Data from the building tours is available to be viewed at KahoksConnect.com.
As part of its efforts to hear from everyone in the Collinsville school community, the KAHOKS CONNECT program also conducted a community telephone survey and an online survey in October and November 2023.
To fully fund identified critical needs, voters will consider a zero-tax-rate-change to the Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 Operations and Maintenance Fund from 50 cents to 72 cents. The ballot proposal, along with additional funds from the Health/Life/Safety funding and accumulated reserves will fund $35 million in improvements over the next seven years without changing the tax rate.
CUSD 10 facilities have several identified issues in all schools that must be addressed. These include:
- Continue to improve the safety and security of students, staff and visitors in all CUSD 10 facilities.
- Replace older, unreliable fire alarm systems.
- Replace identified failing interior and exterior doors to improve safety and security.
- Add bullet-resistant safety film to exterior doors and windows.
- Where identified, replace or renovate school entrances for safety and visibility.
- Update facilities to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal law prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities, to provide ADA access to all students, staff and visitors.
- Identify specific deficiencies related to ADA accessibility in identified schools.
- Evaluate, repair and update classrooms, offices, bathrooms, pathways and stairwells to provide ADA access to students, staff and visitors requiring mobility assistance, as needed.
- Complete needed heating and cooling equipment (HVAC) updates.
- Evaluate, repair and/or install new heating and cooling equipment (HVAC) and controls to improve:
- Consistent temperatures;
- Clean air supply and comfort for students and staff; and
- Energy saving, efficiency and cost effectiveness.
- Complete needed maintenance, repairs and updates at facilities including:
- Make necessary updates to provide appropriate environments to best serve students academic and other educational needs (cafeteria, gym, library, nurse, classrooms).
- Install LED lighting to improve the learning environment, energy efficiency and cost savings.
- Replace damaged ceiling tiles.
- Paint interiors.
- Improve signage that accurately represents the Collinsville community and district brand (colors, images); to include bilingual signage in classrooms and common school areas to support students learning English as a second language.
Collinsville CUSD 10 is facing a number of challenges, including:
Aging buildings
Our schools represent a large investment by our District and its taxpayers and must be properly maintained.
ADA requirements
- ADA requirements have changed over time and our buildings are not in compliance with these newer accommodation requirements.
- Students, staff and the general public are not able to have independent access throughout our district.
Safety Updates
Fire Alarms - need replacing in Collinsville High School and Kreitner Elementary
Timelines for renovating or making improvements to schools must be flexible and require careful planning to ensure student learning is not disrupted. If the proposal is approved, the district will work closely with architects and construction managers to implement the most efficient timeline and complete identified work in approximately seven years. All renovation plans will be shared with parents and our community as dates and schedules are finalized.
The proposal addresses identified needs for the district; however, the schedule could possibly be modified due to changing financial conditions. With today’s economy, if the proposal is approved by the voters, the district will be diligent in protecting the taxpayer’s investment while completing the identified projects in the proposal.
This proposal is an opportunity for us to make these needed improvements without changing our tax rate. If the proposal is approved and the facility improvement plan is completed, our schools will be more efficient to operate and maintain, thus saving our District money. New safety measures will provide a safer environment for our students and staff throughout the school year.
Just as homeowners must sometimes spend money to maintain their homes, the District must spend money to protect the investment that the community has made in its schools and neighborhoods. If approved, the proposal will allow the district to properly maintain over $500,000,000 in school facilities throughout our district. Investing in updated and improved buildings now, will benefit many future generations of students,homeowners and our communities.
If we wait to make these improvements, we will miss the financial opportunity to renovate district facilities without an increase to the tax rate.
It is expected the following renovations would occur at these buildings if the proposal is approved by voters:
- Collinsville High School - Safety and security updates including entryways, installing bullet resistant film on doors and windows, upgrading fire alarms, replacing identified exterior and interior doors, making required ADA updates to be compliant, updating HVAC, replacing ceiling tiles and updating paint and LED lights.
- Collinsville Middle School - Installing bullet resistant film on doors and windows, updating HVAC, and updating paint and LED lights.
- Dorris Intermediate - Safety and security updates including entryways, installing bullet resistant film on doors and windows, replacing identified exterior and interior doors and updating HVAC.
- Jefferson Elementary - Safety and security updates including entryways, installing bullet resistant film on doors and windows, replacing identified exterior and interior doors, updating paint and LED lights.
- Kreitner Elementary - Safety and security updates including entryways, installing bullet resistant film on doors and windows, upgrading fire alarms, replacing identified exterior and interior doors, making required ADA updates to be compliant, updating HVAC, replacing ceiling tiles and updating paint and LED lights.
- Maryville Elementary - Safety and security updates including entryways, installing bullet resistant film on doors and windows, replacing identified exterior and interior doors, making required ADA updates to be compliant, updating HVAC, replacing ceiling tiles and updating paint and LED lights.
- Renfro Elementary - Safety and security updates including entryways, installing bullet resistant film on doors and windows, replacing identified exterior and interior doors, making required ADA updates to be compliant, updating HVAC, replacing ceiling tiles and updating paint and LED lights.
- Summit Elementary - Safety and security updates including entryways, installing bullet resistant film on doors and windows, replacing identified exterior and interior doors, making required ADA updates to be compliant, replacing ceiling tiles and updating paint and LED lights.
- Twin Echo Elementary - Safety and security updates including entryways, installing bullet resistant film on doors and windows, replacing identified exterior and interior doors, making required ADA updates to be compliant, updating HVAC, replacing ceiling tiles and updating paint and LED lights.
- Webster Elementary - Safety and security updates including entryways, installing bullet resistant film on doors and windows, replacing identified exterior and interior doors and updating HVAC
- Hollywood Heights -Installing bullet resistant film on doors and windows, making required ADA updates to be compliant, replacing ceiling tiles, updating paint and LED lights.
It is well known the quality of schools impacts property values. Quality schools stabilize and protect property values and lead to strong communities. The improvements we make now will benefit many generations of students and families who live, and who will live, in the Collinsville CUSD 10 district.
No. Funds will only be used for capital (building) improvements.
The cost for needed repairs and updates will continue to increase as our buildings age, and students will continue to attend schools that are not up to date from a safety and security standpoint, fire alarms will still need to be replaced and may not protect students as fully as possible, the buildings will continue to be out of compliance with ADA requirements limiting students, staff and the community within the buildings, the HVAC systems will continue to be inefficient and expensive to fix/maintain and the interior will continue to increase in need for maintenance. Any future proposal may require a tax rate increase from the community instead of the zero-rate-change opportunity this March.
In total, nearly $35 million in improvements will be made to district facilities, funded by the Operations and Maintenance fund ballot proposal, Health/Life/Safety funding and accumulated reserves. Because of this funding plan, the district will pay absolutely no interest since borrowing money is not required. It is a pay-as-you-go plan.
The District is a good steward of the community’s investment in its schools and it has been recognized for its efforts. In recent years, the District has ended the year with a surplus, allowing the District to grow its reserve fund (savings account).
For nearly a decade, the District has received the highest financial recognition designation from the Illinois State Board of Education, and for the past six years, has been recognized by the Association of School Business Officials International. In August 2021, the District’s S&P Bond Rating was upgraded from AA- to AA. This upgrade reflects the increase in the District’s tax base, coupled with consistently strong operating performance and growing reserves.
Election Day is Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The Collinsville CUSD 10 proposal requires a simple majority (50% + 1 to pass). It is important for every voter to become informed and understand the proposal on the ballot and then exercise their right to vote. EVERY SINGLE VOTE IS IMPORTANT. That's why it is crucial that you remember to vote and remind all of your friends and family to do the same.
All residents of our District who are 18 or older by election day are eligible to vote in this election. Early voting begins February 8 at the County Clerk’s offices and March 4 at early voting centers throughout both counties. Use the links below for information about voter registration, mail-in voting and early voting; or contact the Madison County Clerk’s Office or St. Clair County Clerk’s Office.
Madison County Election Information
Madison County Early Voting
St. Clair County Election Information
St. Clair County Early Voting
All residents can vote in the March 19 primary. Voters may request a Democrat Ballot, Republican Ballot or an Independent Ballot when visiting the polls. An Independent Ballot will only contain the school district’s ballot initiative question and none of the party primary contests.
Early voting begins February 8 at the County Clerk’s offices and March 4 at early voting centers throughout both counties. Use the links below for information.