Forest district gets big OK to buy more land

Despite a rocky economy, voters Tuesday overwhelmingly agreed the Lake County Forest Preserve District would provide a good value for their money.

With all 481 precincts reporting, a forest preserve request to allow it to issue $185 million in bonds appeared headed for approval with 174,536 in support and 90,186 opposed, according to unofficial totals. The numbers include only early votes but not provisional or absentee ballots.

The money would be used to acquire as much as 3,500 acres of land, restore habitats and improve public access to district holdings. About 80 percent, or $148 million, would replenish depleted land acquisition funds and about $37 million would be used for improvements.

Supporters hailed the chance to protect more land and improve facilities, while providing a "natural answer" to traffic congestion, flooding and sprawl.

"I felt pretty optimistic about it," said forest board President Bonnie Thomson Carter. "People who didn't know about it, when you explained it, they got it."

The measure was promoted as not resulting in a tax increase. Previously issued bonds are being retired, and the money used to pay those debts will be shifted to fund the new bonds.

Had the measure been denied, the tax bill for a home valued at $200,000 would have dropped $24.

Supporters said having funds for land acquisition is key now with low land prices.