Hearing set for District 97 referendum lawsuit

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 10:00 PM

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By Terry Dean

Staff reporter

A hearing has been set for Tuesday, May 24, in the lawsuit targeting the recent District 97 referendum. Cook County Judge Mary Mikva will hear the case and decide if a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction should be placed on the April 5 tax increase improved by voters.

The suit was filed in April by Illinois-based Taxpayers United of America and Oak Park resident Noel Kuriakos, who campaigned against the referendum.

"I feel that taxpayers should have proper representation, and I hope the judge makes the right decision — it should be overturned," said Christina Tobin, vice president of Taxpayers United and also an Oak Park resident.

The suit contends the ballot wording misstated the actual tax increase and that D97 and the school board were aware of this, allowed the faulty information and pursued the referendum anyway.

"We need better people in office to represent the taxpayers, who were misled," said Tobin, speaking to Wednesday Journal on Tuesday.

The school district and board dispute her group's claims and say the suit has no merit. Taxpayers United also filed a suit against Riverside-Brookfield School District 208 over its April 5 referendum, and on May 16, they filed one against the Wilmette District 39 school board, arguing that it, too, understated their referendum's impact.

Next Tuesday's hearing regarding D97's suit is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Daley Center in downtown Chicago, 50 W. Washington St., in Room 2508. Tobin said the plaintiffs in the other lawsuits will be at the hearing and will hold a press conference following the judge's decision.