METAMORA, Ill. – Signs supporting Metamora Grade School’s tax referendum proposal were stolen over the weekend, but school board members are still hoping residents will vote in favor of a tax increase in next month’s primary.
Five campaign signs were ripped from their supports early Sunday morning, and smaller signs were taken from yards earlier last week.
School Board President Dana Smith tells 25 News, she was shocked to see the signs cut away from their wooden boards.
”I was very sad because it says that people are willing to use violence to oppose, when you could just oppose by voting no,” Smith said.
The signs ask residents to support a tax referendum to increase the education rate for Metamora Grade School. The new tax would add money to the school’s education fund, but would raise property taxes.
School Board Vice President Heather Loeger says the referendum would prevent consolidation with another school district, and would spare the district from having to cut additional staff, athletics and after-school programming.
Loeger says taxes will go up whether the referendum passes or not.
“In the no vote, our taxes are going to go up. It’s going to be the interest that we’re paying towards the bonds that we’ve been issued,” Loeger said. “If it is a yes vote, then the tax money will go directly to the school and be able to do a lot more for our community.”
Metamora Police don’t have any suspects yet, but say the people who took the signs could be charged with a Class 4 felony for theft and vandalism.
Police are checking ring camera footage to identify those responsible for the vandalism.
School staff and residents have painted over the boards where the signs were posted and 30 more signs have been ordered.
Early voting is underway for the referendum and other races in the March 19 primary election.
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