Champaign Public Schools Hope Voters Approve $149 Million For Construction

Politicians aren't the only ones who've spent this year selling themselves to voters. The Champaign Public School System has hedged its bets on residents voting yes on a $149 million bond sale, which would increase property taxes to district residents.

The District says it needs the money to expand and renovate Centennial High School and build a new Central High School.

Unit 4 Suprintendent Judy Wiegand says the school board has exhausted all options, and landed on the bond sale because of the increasing space constraints in the district.

"It's the capacity issue," she said. "The fact that we're already at 104 percent capacity at both of our high schools and have to put portable classroom trailers in front of one of our high schools in order to have enough classroom space...if we do nothing as a community, it will only get worse and it'll go up to 120 percent."

Wiegand says the property tax increase has been a tough sell. She says if the referendum fails tomorrow, the District is prepared to adjust their ask for a future election.