Ivanhoe Village Update

Dear D79 and D120 Communities,

Fremont School District 79 and Mundelein District 120 remain committed to keeping our community informed with updates regarding the potential Ivanhoe Village development in Mundelein.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

On April 9, the Illinois State House of Representatives passed HB 22 by a unanimous, bipartisan vote of 113-0. HB 22 was introduced and passed in the House within 48 hours (press release). This legislation allows municipalities to impose impact fees to help cover the costs of constructing new school buildings when those costs are directly tied to specific residential developments. We are grateful to our state legislators, Sen. Adriane Johnson (D – Buffalo Grove), Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (D – Libertyville), Rep. Daniel Didech (D – Buffalo Grove), and Rep. Laura Faver Dias (D – Grayslake), for supporting the taxpayers and school districts by sponsoring and advocating for this legislation. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration by the spring legislative session’s scheduled adjournment on May 31.

If this bill is signed into law:

• It “unties” the Village of Mundelein’s hands and allows the flexibility for our municipal leaders to secure fair impact fees from the Ivanhoe Village developer.

• It relieves the tax burden on current community members.

• It allows for proper funding for the school districts to help ensure that educational programming isn’t negatively impacted by the enrollment growth from Ivanhoe Village—if our Village leaders and the developers are willing to negotiate.

What Can You Do?

Village of Mundelein’s next meeting is Monday, April 14, at 7:00 p.m. at Village Hall

• Urge Mayor Lentz and the Village Board to halt any action regarding impact fees agreement and ordinance items. Allow time for the legislation to advance in Springfield and “untie the hands” of Village officials.

• Encourage Mayor-Elect Robin Meier and the incoming trustees to call upon Mayor Lentz and the current Village Board to delay action and allow the Village’s new leadership to deliberate on these important decisions.

• Contact the Village of Mundelein Board of Trustees, encouraging them to support this new legislation and halt any action concerning impact fees (letter template)

• Make a public comment at the next Village of Mundelein Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for Monday, April 14, at 7:00 p.m. at Village Hall.

Our advocacy related to Ivanhoe Village has been and will continue to be about striving to protect our taxpayers as we manage enrollment growth. It is time for the Village of Mundelein to do the responsible thing by supporting this new legislation and pausing its planned action on impact fees. We encourage you to reach out to Mayor Lentz and the Village Board of Trustees before they make a hasty decision that could negatively impact our taxpayers and schools for decades to come.

Sincerely,

Trisha Kocanda, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools, D79

Kevin Myers, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools, D120