Letter to the Editor: Why Are They Pushing Us So Hard on the Referendum?

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As someone who truly wants to support the Mahomet-Seymour School District and our kids, I find myself questioning why this referendum is being pushed so aggressively. If this plan were the right solution, would they need to spend so much time, energy, and money convincing us?

Think about it: why does the district need to spend tens of thousands of dollars on companies to create posters, mailers, and flyers sent home with our kids? Why do they need social media posts that almost scare us into thinking this is the only option? And soon, we’ll be seeing videos and letters with names of people supporting the referendum. All of this feels like overkill to me.

What I find most concerning is that while I want to vote for a plan, this one just doesn’t seem right. A good plan should be straightforward, providing growth for the next 30-40 years. This one only gives us about 10 years before we’re back in the same position. It should be affordable and fair for everyone. Instead, this will result in one of the largest per household tax increases Champaign County has ever seen.

Another concern: who benefits from this plan? I’ve noticed a lot of the people posting in favor of the referendum have careers tied to real estate, construction, and development. Are their interests aligned with what’s best for our schools, or what’s best for their business?

The bigger picture, however, is that Mahomet’s rapid, unchecked growth has left our schools struggling to keep up. 

Everywhere I look, new developments are popping up. If you look at where the Village is putting their money, and what plans they have in both TIF districts, more development is to come.  While growth can be a good thing, it feels like there’s no clear plan for managing it. More homes and families mean more kids in our schools, and right now, it seems like the district is struggling to keep up. 

And where is the Village of Mahomet? Why isn’t the Village helping us with responsible growth instead of encouraging developers to sprawl throughout town? Mahomet residents have been talking about this for at least six years, but our leaders continue to push forward ambitiously. 

The current referendum proposal is a direct result of this unchecked growth. Our schools are being forced to play catch-up and instead of addressing the root of the problem—unsustainable growth—we’re being asked to pass a short-term fix that won’t solve the long-term issues. We’re essentially building a plan that will only cover us for the next decade, even though Village growth plans take us into 2050. 

I believe we need a long-term strategy that addresses both the growth of Mahomet and the needs of our schools. Let’s push for a plan that not only meets today’s challenges but prepares us for the future, ensuring sustainable growth that benefits everyone in our community—not just a few.

That’s why I’m voting NO on this referendum. It’s time for a real solution that will carry us through the next 30 to 40 years, not just the next decade. Let’s demand a plan that truly serves our children, our schools, and our community for the long haul.

Thank you,

Craig C.