2026 Road Bond Referendum Information

New Roads Same Tax RateThe City of Prospect Heights is placing a road bond referendum on the March 2026 ballot to address improvements to roadways, curbs, sidewalks, Maple Road bridge, and the purchase of road maintenance equipment. The road bond request will be for $21.5 million to be paid off in 20-years. A current pavement assessment study found that 26.1 miles of our local roads - about 65% of the City’s network - require resurfacing or partial reconstruction by 2030. The City currently has a 2010 road bond that will expires at the end of 2026, and with many roadways having deteriorated significantly over the past 15 years, a new road bond is required to address serious resurfacing needs while the City continues ongoing maintenance such as crack sealing and spot repairs. If approved by voters, the proposed bond will allow improvements to occur with no increase to the current tax rate, as the new bond would continue the same rate already in place under the expiring debt. The City is sharing this information to ensure residents understand the condition of local infrastructure and the funding option under consideration, without advocating for or against the referendum.

Roadway Improvement Plan and 2026 Road Bond Q&A

What will be the referendum question on the March 2026 ballot?

Shall bonds in the amount of $21,500,000 be issued by the City of Prospect Heights, Cook County, Illinois, for the purpose of improving, reconstructing and resurfacing roads, improving and maintaining bridges, intersections, curbs and sidewalks and purchasing road maintenance vehicles and equipment, said bonds bearing interest at the rate of not to exceed 6.5%?

 

What size bond referendum is being considered, and for how long?

The City is considering placing a 20-year, $21.5 million bond referendum on the March 2026 ballot.

 

What do you mean that there would be no net tax rate increase?

The City is currently paying off a road bond that expires December 31, 2026. The size of the tax rate for the new rate is the same size as the tax rate for the expiring rate. It is similar to paying off an old car loan and immediately buying a new car with the same payments. The new cost replaces the old cost.

The information states that only 86% of the road bond funds will go toward road resurfacing and reconstruction. What is the City planning on doing with the other 14%?

The City will take this opportunity to complete bridge maintenance on Maple Road, sidewalk improvements along Willow Road and Burning Bush Lane, curb improvements at intersections, and purchase needed road maintenance vehicles and equipment. Below is a pie chart of the expenses.

Pie Chart

Just the Facts on the Road Bond Referendum


  • Only 3.5% of your property tax bill goes to Prospect Heights. As a non-home rule community, Prospect Heights can only levy a property tax for two reasons: 1) a supplement to fund Police pensions and 2) a road bond issued back in 2010. Both of these were passed by voter referendum.
  • A typical $450,000 home in Prospect Heights pays less than $500 a year in property tax to the City of Prospect Heights. Check out your latest tax bill.
  • In 2010, a road bond was passed by the residents because the City roads were becoming unsafe to drive due to severe deterioration and potholes. The 2010 Road Bond will expire December 31, 2026. 
  • With 15 years of wear and tear, the City’s roads once again require repair and maintenance to ensure they remain safe and drivable. 
  • The City is asking the residents to approve the continuation of the use of road bonds to maintain the City’s ongoing road maintenance program. 
  • With the paying off of the 2010 road bond at the end of 2026 and the January 1, 2027 implementation of a new road bond, the property tax rate imposed by the City will remain consistent. 
  • The 2027 road bond will provide for the repair of 64% of the City’s roads (26 miles), improving and maintaining bridges, intersections, curbs and sidewalks and the purchase of road maintenance vehicles and equipment.


If the road bond is not approved, what could be the outcome?

  • If the road bond is not approved, your individual property taxes will go down a few hundred dollars for the City of Prospect Heights portion of your tax bill. 
  • If the road bond is not approved, the City will not be able to maintain all the roads in a safe and drivable condition. Instead, the City will only be able to resurface and reconstruct a couple of the worst roads each year. This approach will leave the roads that only need routine maintenance and repairs to keep them safe, to deteriorate at an unacceptable rate and eventually fail. This will result in the need to completely rebuild the majority of roads at an exponentially higher cost.

Has the City been properly maintaining roadways?

Yes. The City continually pursues crack sealing, pothole filling, and spot repairs. However, routine maintenance is no longer sufficient and milling and resurfacing are now needed.

How does our local weather accelerate road deterioration?

Frequent freeze-thaw cycles cause moisture to seep into pavement, freeze, expand, and crack the surface. Additionally, extreme heat events and increasingly intense rainfall reduce the lifespan of our local roadways.

To what extent does making timely roadway improvements reduce costs?

The longer the City waits to make roadway improvements, the more it will cost. In fact, every $1 we spend now on preventative maintenance saves $4 to $10 in rehabilitation and reconstruction costs later.

How quickly do roadways deteriorate?

Although pavement deterioration begins at a slow rate, it picks up dramatically if preventative maintenance is not provided early and efficiently. For example, within five years, most of the roadways that are currently in fair condition would move into the poor condition category

More Than 26 Miles of Roadways Would Be Improved

The City seeks to mill and resurface 26.1 miles of roadways from 2027 to 2030, with some roads requiring partial reconstruction. The City will continue to proactively maintain the roadways that are not yet in need of milling and resurfacing via crack sealing and other preventative maintenance.

Proposed Roadway Improvements 2027-2030

Roadway Plan 2027
2027 Pavement Assesment Program		Roadway Plan 2028
2028 Pavement Assessment Program
Roadway Plan 2029
2029 Pavement Assessment Program		Roadway Plan 2030
2030 Pavement Assessment Program