| Reminder! February Drinks and Dialogue
This Wednesday, Feb. 19
by Camille Taylor, Drinks and Dialogue Chair
Could it happen to you? Could you ever become homeless? At Drinks and Dialogue on February 19th, you will hear from a woman who became homeless.
Verneice Prince will share her remarkable story. Even more importantly, she will share the work her nonprofit, COPS (Cruisin’ Outta Poverty Services) is doing in our community. Verneice’s lived experiences can answer your questions regarding the who, what, why and how of homelessness.
You won’t want to miss this!
| | |  | | Member Consensus Virtual Meeting on Feb. 25
Discuss County Facilities Sales Tax Referendum
The LWV of McLean County will be hosting a members-only Consensus Meeting via Zoom on Feb. 25 at 6:30 PM to consider whether or not we should take a position on the County School Facilities Sales Tax referendum that will be on the April 1 ballot. We do not advocate for or against an issue unless there is a consensus of members to do so.
The proposition will be presented on the ballot as follows:
"Shall a retailers' occupation tax and service occupation tax (commonly referred to as a sales tax) be imposed in the County of McLean, Illinois, at a rate of 1% to be used exclusively for school facility purposes, school resource officers, and mental health professionals?”
To prepare, please read the property tax background article below. In addition, our Study Team developed Information Materials available at the registration page linked below. Also helping inform us, superintendents of Unit 5 and District 87 conducted extensive Q&A at our Feb. 11 Education Program (story below).
Please plan to participate in this discussion of whether or not the League will take a position on the referendum. Register here to receive the Zoom link for this meeting.
| | | | Behind the Scenes of Property Taxes
By Laurie Wollrab, President
If you rent or have a mortgage and an escrow account from which your property taxes are paid by the bank, you may not have studied a property tax bill in great detail. I can’t think of any way more amusing to spend my time (LOL).
Yet, with a county-wide referendum on the April 1st ballot which will be asking for a 1% sales tax that would shift some of the funding of K-12 schools from property taxes to sales tax, it may be helpful to better understand the more complex of the two types of taxes, the property tax.
Let's dig into this a bit, to prepare for our Feb. 25 consensus meeting. Here are the nuts and bolts.
| | | Welcome New Member!
Please welcome Cathy Lust to the League. | | | | Key Dates ~ April 1 Consolidated Election | January 2: First day to apply for a vote by mail ballot.
February 20: First day to vote early at the office of the election authority. First day for the election authority to mail an official ballot to registered voters within the United States.
March 4: Last day for regular (paper) voter registration.
March 5–April 1: Grace period registration and voting at election authority and early voting sites. | | March 16: Last day for online voter registration. Grace period registration is still available at election authority and early voting sites.
March 17: First day to vote early at permanent polling places.
March 27: Last day for election authority to receive vote by mail applications.
April 1: General election day! Polls open from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
| | | New Member Orientation
By Beth Porter, Membership Director
A new member orientation meeting will be offered every other month in 2025. Orientation meetings are focused on informing new and prospective League members about the League's history, structure, and ways to get involved; however, all members are welcome to attend and can invite a friend. The sessions will be one hour or less.
Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Bloomington Public Library, 205 E. Olive St., Bloomington, IL 61701
Conference Room, 2nd Floor
Upcoming Dates/Times
● Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
● Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
| Make a Difference
Serve on the League Board
Are you ready to defend democracy? By becoming an officer or director of the LWVMC, you have an opportunity to protect and expand voting rights, empower voters, and influence legislation through advocacy and education.
If you are ready to help, wish to nominate a friend, or have any questions about serving, please contact governance committee chair Cathy Pratt at info@lwvmclean.org. | | | Strategies for Affordable Housing Meeting: Beyond Building
January Community Information Program Recap
by Colleen Reynolds
Housing advocates and city leaders say the rise of construction costs by as much as 38%, zoning restrictions, interest rates, and not-in-my-neighborhood (NIMBY) sentiments are all part of a landscape of challenges that contributes to the local housing shortage crisis.
The League of Women Voters of McLean County forum at the Bloomington Public Library highlighted the need for regional and innovative solutions to address a complex community, regional, and frankly national problem.
Click on photos to see pictures from the meeting. | | LWV Community Information Program on Sales Tax Referendum
Meeting Recap on Facebook
The League held a community information meeting on Feb. 11 about the McLean County Sales Tax Referendum. School superintendents from both District 87 and Unit 5 discussed what the proposed 1% sales tax, if approved, would mean to their school districts. Photos and recap are on the League of Women Voters of McLean County Facebook page.
| | | | LWVUS Urges Congress to Act in New Letter
On Feb. 14, the League of Women Voters of the United States and League chapters from all 50 states and the District of Columbia sent a letter to congressional leaders expressing strong concern over abandoning its duties and authorities under Article I of the US Constitution, urging leaders to address the unprecedented executive branch overreach threatening American democracy.
"The dismantling of our sacred democracy on full display for the world is one of the most horrific events in modern-day politics," said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters of the United States. "When the executive branch egregiously signals it will defy court orders and neglect the welfare of citizens, that is when Congress must be reminded of their duty to defend the Constitution. The League demands Congress act to prevent threats to the very fabric of our Republic.”
| | | Let’s Talk
Deliberative Dialogue Session on March 20
by Kyle Ciani, Voter Services Director
The League encourages members to participate in ISU's Campus-Community Deliberative Dialogue on Voter Engagement hosted by ISU's Center for Civic Engagement. In addition to the League, the Bloomington-Normal NAACP and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity are also partners.
The Center describes the benefits of participating in this type of guided conversation: "By participating in a Deliberative Dialog, participants can learn skills to express their own perspectives while also listening to the perspectives of others (important civic skills). Participants can learn how to have conversations on difficult and complex topics."
The group is planning for 8-10 tables of 6-8 people each, with a capacity for 60 total participants. The event will take place on Thursday, March 20, 6-8 PM, on the southwest corner of Floor 6 in Milner Library. Registration information to come.
Organizers want to have a mix of student/community participation. Please share with your groups. | Reinvent Veterans Parkway
Survey Still Open
Fill out the survey to give your feedback on the future of Veterans Parkway. The survey is open now until the end of February.
The McLean County Regional Planning Commission, the Illinois Department of Transportation and local partners launched a planning study to reinvent and re-envision the essential roadway focusing on safety, equity, and sustainability. Read more and fill out the survey:
| | Get Your League T-Shirt
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T-Shirt | | | League of Women Voters of McLean County
P.O. Box 932, Normal, IL 61761
Email: info@lwvmclean.org
Web: lwvmclean.org | |