Thank You for Your Input

The Pekin Park District Board of Commissioners would like to thank all residents who participated in our recent voter survey, as well as those who completed the community-wide facility interest survey sent out last fall.

The purpose of the facility interest survey was to gather community feedback and guide future decisions regarding our facilities and infrastructure. The results helped us identify which projects matter most to Pekin residents and how we might address them.

●      A complete summary of those analytics and responses is available at: Fall 2025 Survey Analytics & Responses.pdf

Evaluating the Options: Bond Referendum vs. Tax Rate Increase

The initial survey results left one primary question for the Board to resolve: Should we consider a bond referendum to address projects and free up money in our General and Recreation Funds, or should we consider a tax rate increase to raise ongoing operational funds while supporting facility projects?

After reviewing the top-priority projects identified by the community, the Board decided to evaluate a tax rate increase for the following reasons:

●      Project Scale & Costs: The top projects alone will cost millions of dollars, with many additional projects waiting behind them.

●      Bond Limitations: A bond referendum has strict borrowing limits and would not generate enough capital to complete even the top-ranked projects.

●      Broad Priorities: Survey responses showed that residents prioritized almost all listed projects similarly, reflecting a broad need across many areas of the park system.

The Financial Challenge: Low Revenue & Rising Costs

The Park District’s tax rate is currently too low for a district of our size and for the extensive list of facilities we maintain.

1.     Rising Expenses: The costs of employees, materials, supplies, repairs, and construction continue to rise, creating a need for a reliable, increased stream of revenue.

2.     Unpredictable Alternative Revenues: Personal Property Replacement Tax dollars fluctuate year-to-year.

3.     User Fees Reaching Limits: Fees charged for programs, facility entry, and usage cannot be raised indefinitely without pricing residents out. We are nearly at that limit.

How Property Taxes Currently Support the Park District

The Pekin Park District’s primary source of steady funding comes from property taxes, which account for roughly 4.5% to 6% of a typical local tax bill.

Below is a direct example breakdown from an actual Pekin property tax bill:

Stretching Every Dollar

Despite receiving a low tax rate and a small slice of overall property tax collections, the Park District stretches its resources significantly compared to other public bodies.

●      Alternative Income: The District supplements its budget using Personal Property Replacement Tax, memberships, program fees, donations, and competitive grants.

●      No Direct Tax Subsidies: We do not receive direct state funding, nor do we receive revenues from income tax, sales tax, use tax, hotel/motel tax, or motor fuel tax.

●      Fiscal Year Revenue Breakdown (Estimated):

○      Property Taxes: $3,127,709

○      Personal Property Replacement Tax: $1,100,000

○      Non-Tax Sources (Fees, Grants, Rentals, etc.): $4,586,997

High Value for Taxpayers

According to a 2024 expenditure analysis conducted by the Illinois Association of Park Districts, the Pekin Park District delivers $5.03 in parks, facilities, programs, and services per resident for every $1.00 received in property taxes. This dollar-for-dollar value is among the highest in the state of Illinois. However, maintaining this level of delivery without adequate funding is becoming unsustainable.

Voter Survey Results & Feedback

To test whether the community would support a tax rate increase—and by how much—the District commissioned a dedicated voter survey.

Key Arguments For Support

●      Recognizing the vital role excellent parks and recreation play in keeping Pekin a desirable place to live.

●      Funding critical repairs for deteriorating roads, parking lots, and sidewalks around key park facilities.

●      The historical context: The Park District has not requested a tax referendum since 1980 (45 years ago).

●      Preventing potential park feature or facility closures caused by lack of funding.

Key Arguments Against

●      Concerns over Illinois having some of the highest property taxes in the nation.

●      General opposition to any property tax increases.

●      Current economic headwinds, including high inflation, high interest rates, and financial uncertainty.

●      The direct cost: The proposed increase of $27.54 (Option 1) or $49.56 (Option 2) per $100,000 of home value is too high for many households to afford.

 

The Bottom Line & Next Steps

No Referendum Will Be Pursued

The voter survey made one thing clear: a majority of local voters do not support a tax rate increase. The margin between supporters and opponents is too wide to justify placing a referendum on the ballot.

We conducted this survey to listen to our community. You spoke, we listened, and the Pekin Park District will NOT pursue a tax rate increase referendum.

The Path Forward

While a referendum is off the table, the financial realities remain. During the survey, many opponents suggested that the District find non-tax funding (e.g., grants, higher user fees) or cut and reallocate existing budget funds.

While we already review and optimize our budget annually, we will intensify our efforts to find alternative funding streams. However, non-tax options alone may not cover the full deficit. If alternative revenue falls short, the Board of Commissioners will eventually need to explore tougher operational choices, such as:

●      Closing specific park features or facilities.

●      Restructuring or downsizing offered programs and community services.

A Final Message From the Board

The Pekin Park District Board of Commissioners deeply appreciates everyone who took the time to participate. Your feedback is taken seriously. While the road ahead will require difficult decisions, the Board remains committed to doing everything possible to protect and maintain the parks, facilities, and programs that serve the Pekin community.