East Central Reporter

Public bodies are prohibited from advocating for or against ballot measures or candidates for public office, a practice known as electioneering. However, this rule has not deterred some entities in Champaign County.

The Tolono Fire Protection District recently placed a tax increase referendum on the ballot, which was approved by a majority vote during the November 2024 election. This measure increased the tax rate from 23 cents per $100 to 35 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

The issue arises from allegations that the district used public resources to campaign in favor of the referendum, an act considered prohibited electioneering. While public bodies are allowed to produce and publish factual information about referendums, they are not permitted to advocate for or against them.

Reports indicate that the district utilized its building and official social media pages to promote support for the referendum. A Freedom of Information Act request has been submitted for further details, but no response has been received yet.