District 88 outlines $118 million bond referendum at Addison SD 4 meeting; Addison 4 takes no position

Officials from neighboring District 88 briefed the Addison School District 4 board July 15 about a proposed bond referendum and answered trustees’ questions about priorities, timing and fund balances.

Doctor Barbarinetti (S13), introduced by Chair (S5) as representing District 88, said the district has prioritized about $133 million in projects from a larger $180 million facilities assessment and is considering a referendum that would issue roughly $118,000,000 in bonds. Barbarinetti said the board is still in a community-feedback process and emphasized the district’s claim that the timing could allow issuance of new referendum debt without a tax increase because prior referendum debt is scheduled to be paid off. “This is my 32nd year in the district… we have the opportunity to potentially… have a referendum question that would basically result in the issuance of a $118,000,000 worth of bonds that would result in no tax increase to the community,” Barbarinetti said.

Barbarinetti listed proposed uses that include upgrades to safety and security systems; accessibility improvements (auditoriums and bleachers); career-and-technical-education expansions in auto, technology and construction trades; performing-arts upgrades; and athletic improvements including consideration of a second turf field at Willowbrook. He said the district is working through community input and has not adopted a ballot question; if the Addison-adjacent board were to proceed, the sample timeline pointed to a potential November election date.

Trustees raised questions about enrollment and operating costs in their district and asked whether District 88 planned staffing and long-term adjustments to account for enrollment trends. Barbarinetti said District 88 is implementing a multi-year plan that includes attrition-based staffing reductions, retirement incentives and program consolidation where needed; he cited an enrollment projection near 1,780 for the coming year and said the district’s fund balance currently sits at about 30% and is expected to decline under current pressures. One trustee cautioned that messaging of “no net tax increase” can be misunderstood by residents and urged clear public explanations of tradeoffs and expected household impacts.

Addison SD 4 made no formal statement of support or opposition; the district provided the presentation to inform Addison residents about District 88’s proposal.

Barbarinetti and District 88 staff offered to host tours and additional informational sessions for community members and to publish FAQs on a website for residents’ questions.