Warrensburg - Warrensburg-Latham elementary students start eating lunch at 10:30 a.m. and take physical education classes in a storm cellar because space is at a premium in the district.

The schools haven't asked for a tax increase since 1996, said Superintendent Emmett Aubry, but the need is so great that the board voted unanimously to put a referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot.

If it passes, it will raise property taxes by approximately $150 per year for a $100,000 home and provide the district with $12 million for construction and remodeling.

An addition would connect the elementary building to the middle and high schools, provide a new gym for the high school students, modernize the kitchens and cafeteria, and pay for extra classroom space and science labs.

The district Web site includes an explanation of the plan and a video interview with Aubry at www.wl.k12. il.us, and public forums are planned for 7 p.m. today at the Latham Fire House and 7 p.m. Thursday at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Hall.

"You can't tell people how to vote," Aubry said. "(The Web site) is informational and gives the reasons we asked for the referendum."

Warrensburg residents will have another referendum to consider as well: whether to continue to employ three full-time police officers.

Chief Greg Wheeler said that until about a month ago, the village had three officers. When one resigned, that left Wheeler and one other full-time officer, with a rotating roster of 10 part-time officers to fill in the third slot. The part-time officers only get paid when they work and do not receive benefits. Of those 10, one is exclusively a training officer and one is assigned to special events and monitoring court-ordered community service.

A third officer already is covered in the budget, Wheeler said.

"I feel we need three officers," he said.

Mayor Leland Hackl said the issue of whether to fill the third position came up when village board member Karen Musik brought up tight village finances. But Hackl said a full-time officer who is immediately available in a crisis is worth the extra cost for benefits.

During the ice storm a few years ago, he said, the part-time officers couldn't get to Warrensburg immediately to help.

"That's when you notice it's nice to have full-time officers - when a situation does arise and you need emergency personnel right away," he said.

A public meeting on that referendum will be held at the Village Hall at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3.

Elsewhere in Macon County, Oakley Township residents will be asked to approve a property tax increase to pay for roads and bridges. That referendum will ask for a maximum levy of 75 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value. The current maximum is 50 cents, which was established in 1930.

The last referendum, in April 2007, failed with 94 "no" votes to 78 "yes" votes.

Trustee Roger Nelson said that if the referendum passes, it's very unlikely the maximum will be assessed.

In Blue Mound, residents will decide whether to create a park district with the same boundaries as the village. Five trustees would have to be elected to govern the park district, and though no one filed in time to be named on the Nov. 4 ballot, five people since have filed to run as write-in candidates: Danny Binkley, Kelly Blome, Christina Field, Travis Trimble and Jodi True.

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