Published Date: October 28, 2020

The Champaign County Forest Preserve District is a week away from learning if voters will support its plea for an increase in taxes to support catching up on more than $4 million in backlogged capital projects.

The Forest Preserve District manages and maintains 169 buildings and recreational facilities, 3,919 acres of green space, and programs based on a 1980 budget, according to its 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

Currently, an average of 1% of the taxable property goes to support the district, about $240,000 annually. According to an analysis of district financial reports, over the past 5 years, this tax has been its greatest form of revenue, while it has had a total revenue and expenditure of about $5 million.