Voters Said NO. So why Is D303 Still Looking to Raise Taxes

D303 IS DETERMINED TO GET INTO D303 TAXPAYER'S ACCOUNTS

KANE COUNTY SPEAKS | November 9, 2026

D303 voters rejected $282.5 million in school bonds. Six days later, District 303 is determined to get more taxes.

On Tuesday, November 3, the voters of St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 delivered a clear message.  In voting to DENY D303's, voters said "we're done."  Down goes the referendum.  Not by 1 vote, not 100, not 1,000, but just under 4,000.  In a cycle where most tax referendums passed, D303 voters were clear.  DONE.

And that was after the district spent so much money on PR firms to present its case, explain its proposed improvements, and all but told taxpayers that more taxes was in their best interests.  IT FAILED.   Source: Kane County Election Results | Daily Herald, November 6

Other Communities Approved Referendums. St. Charles Did Not

Sources: Daily Herald Election Reporting | Kane County Election Results

BUT D303 ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T CARE.  THEY WANT ACCESS TO YOUR MONEY

Tonight, the school board all but ignored the voters.  Fake acknowledgement segued into more opportune times to throw out another referendum.  See graphic above as they identify more dates for more referendums.  It borderlines on being sick.

But wait....there's more.

The Law That Could Change What Happens Next

Tonight, District 303 has already identified Health and Life Safety bonds as one potential financing option if voters rejected its proposal.   It's how behind a mechanism for qualifying school projects to be financed (with the taxes passed onto every D303 taxpayer) without voter approval.  Why have an election? 

On June 7, 2024, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 4582, now Public Act 103-0591.

The legislation changed Illinois school borrowing rules, including provisions governing school fire-prevention and safety bonds.  Importantly, it removed certain qualifying bond debt-service levies from limitations imposed by the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, commonly referred to as the property tax cap law.   The change can permit school districts to finance approved Health and Life Safety projects and levy property taxes to repay the debt without first obtaining approval through a referendum.

A district may have authority to impose additional property-tax costs for eligible projects even when voters have rejected a broader borrowing proposal

D303 doesn't care about you or your vote.  They're locked and loaded.  That distinction deserves extraordinary scrutiny when the rejection occurred just six days earlier.

Source: Illinois Public Act 103-0591, HB4582

Legal Analysis: Chapman and Cutler — Changes to Illinois School District Borrowing Powers

Before Asking Taxpayers for More, look in the mirror

District 303 just likes to spend.  It loves taking your money and hopes that you are ok with it.  Spending and administrative compensation should also be part of the public discussion.  According to the US Census Bureau, the average household income in D303 is $144,000.  Over 35% of D303 households don't make $100,000. 

But according to the district's official 2025 Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefits Report, Superintendent Dr. Paul Gordon received the following disclosed compensation:

Compensation component,

Base salary$275,834.00

Annuities$27,000.00

Retirement enhancements $6,799.92. 

Other disclosed benefits$12,078.34

Total disclosed compensation$321,712.26.

That's $45,878.26 beyond his base salary, approximately 16.6% more. And Dr. Gordon is only one administrator. 

A review of 20 highly compensated D303 employees identified approximately $4.23 million in combined disclosed salary and compensation components, compared with approximately $3.35 million just in base salaries.  That difference of approximately $876,000 demonstrates why discussions about government compensation should examine more than base pay.

Those figures are not necessarily the district's complete employment costs, and the 20-person review is not a certified ranking of every district employee. No wonder Gordon is anxious to get this money.  He doesn't care that the voters said no and over 35% of them are struggling with a tax bill in which over 65% of it is ALREADY going to support schools

Source: D303 Official 2025 Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefits Report

Who Bears the Financial Consequences?

Here is the accountability question that deserves attention.  School board members make decisions about public borrowing. Property owners ultimately bear the tax obligations used to repay much of that borrowing.  If qualifying bonds are issued without a referendum, residents who opposed additional debt may still be required to contribute through their property taxes.

Board members who vote for this should bear the cost of intentionally ignoring the taxpayers.  There should be consequences to those who ignore the taxpayers.  Every board member who votes to increase these taxes should face consequences.  They were elected by the taxpayers and they have chosen to ignore those who placed them in their postion.

A Rejected Referendum Is Not a Budget Strategy

District 303's board and administration have a responsibility to maintain safe school buildings and provide students with an appropriate learning environment.  That responsibility continues after a failed referendum.  Where's any accountability.  They're addicted to taking money, but have zero desire to cut their MASSIVE compensation packages or curb or trim spending.  It's like this money is crack for them.

Where's any responsibility to respect the public's decision? 

Illinois law may allow certain borrowing without an election. It does not make every legally permitted borrowing decision financially prudent, necessary, or consistent with the priorities expressed by voters.

The November 3 result should be central to the board's deliberations.  But clearly they can't read the room. 

Residents deserve a transparent explanation of what the district intends to do differently, not merely what other legal financing mechanisms are available.

The Bottom Line

District 303 asked voters to authorize $282.5 million in bonds. Voters said no.

The district must needs to grow up and quit stealing.  Act within the legal and financial framework available to it to SERVE....not to take.  Clearly, if D303 chooses this route, they are never to be trusted again and any board member who votes for this monetary taking should know that the voters have spoken.

The voters have spoken on the proposal they were given. The next test is whether the school board's actions reflect that decision.

Sources and Public Records

• Kane County Clerk — November 3, 2026 Election Results
• Daily Herald — November 6, 2026 Referendum Reporting
• D303 — Official Referendum Materials
• D303 — Communitywide Education Facilities Committee
• Illinois General Assembly — Public Act 103-0591
• Illinois School Code — 105 ILCS 5/17-2.11
• Chapman and Cutler — Analysis of School District Borrowing Powers
• D303 — 2025 Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefits Report
• D303 — School Board Meetings and Agendas

Election results cited are unofficial pending certification. As of this article's preparation, no November 9 board action authorizing Health and Life Safety bonds had been independently verified.