DeKalb County School Facility Tax Referendum on November Ballot

Dear Sycamore Community School District 427 community,

During Sycamore Community School District 427 Board of Education meeting on July 30, 2024, the board voted to add a referendum to the upcoming November ballot. This referendum will ask voters whether they support a 1% sales tax, which is intended to address school building needs across DeKalb County. Sycamore, DeKalb, Genoa-Kingston, Sandwich, Somonauk, and Hiawatha school boards have all approved placing this measure on the ballot.

In order to include the sales tax referendum on the ballot in November, school districts representing more than 50% of students enrolled in DeKalb County had to vote to approve the process. If passed, this 1% sales tax is projected to generate an estimated $10 million annually for public school districts across the county and an estimated $2.5 million for Sycamore 427.

What is the DeKalb County School Facility Tax?

The DeKalb County School Facility Tax also known as the “Penny Tax” is a proposed 1% sales tax on certain goods sold within the county, designed to support school facility improvements. It’s important to note that if a product or service is not currently subject to sales tax, it will not be taxed under this proposal. Items such as prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, cars and trucks, farm equipment, unprepared foods (groceries), and services will be untaxed. These funds could also be used to support School Resource Officers, and Mental Health professionals in the future. However, the immediate need in Sycamore schools is for facility work.

How Will the Funds Be Used?

The funds generated by this tax will be distributed to each district based on the number of students in each district that resides in DeKalb County. School boards will be responsible for deciding how the funds are used for facility-related projects. 

Funds can be used for the following:

• New School Facilities
• Additions & Renovations
• Abate Property Taxes
• Land Acquisition
• Energy Efficiency
• Athletic facilities
• Paying Off Building Bonds
• Architectural Planning
• Durable Equipment
• Safety/Security Improvements

Sycamore Community School District 427 plans to use these funds to address facility needs throughout the district. These funds will support facility projects on a year to year basis. By investing in infrastructure improvements, the district aims to ensure a safer, more efficient environment for students and staff, while preserving the longevity of all of our buildings. One such example is both short- and long-term planning for Sycamore High School.

Ballot Question

The specific question that will appear on the November ballot will be:“Shall a retailers’ occupation tax and a service occupation tax (commonly referred to as ‘Sales Tax’) be imposed in DeKalb County at a rate of one (1) percent to be used exclusively for school facility purposes, school resource officers, and mental health professionals?”

Voters will be asked to vote “Yes” or “No,” and a simple majority is required for the measure to pass.

We encourage you to review the information and make an informed decision on this important initiative. For more details, we have created a one-page flyer (English version and Spanish version) that further explains how this sales tax will impact our district and countywide schools. Additional information will be provided over the coming months.

If you have any questions on the DeKalb County School Facility Tax, please reach out to us at communications@syc427.org. 

- Sycamore Community School District 427