NORMAL - The fate of Unit 5's $96.7 million school construction project and a tax increase to pay for operating expenses now is in the hands of voters.

Board members for the Normal-based school district voted unanimously Wednesday to put both issues on the Feb. 5 ballot.

"I firmly believe it's the right thing to do, in the right place and the right time," said Superintendent Gary Niehaus.

All school board members individually spoke in favor of the construction project. If voters say "yes," the district will build two new elementary schools and a middle school, renovate eight existing schools, expand Sugar Creek Elementary School and upgrade security and technology at other schools in the district.

If voters say "yes" on the other measure, the tax rate for the education fund will increase by 10 cents per $100 equalized assessed valuation, to $2.72 per $100 EAV, to cover operating costs which will increase with the new buildings.

Enrollment growth has left the district no choice but to build, board member Scott Lay said.

"In the last seven years alone, enrollment has grown by 25 percent or 2,500 students," he said. "I support this motion with great enthusiasm."

The district's enrollment grows by the equivalent of one elementary school each year, said board president Jay Reece.

He said alternatives to building more schools "aren't very pretty." They would include adding more portable classroom units and increasing class sizes.

No members of the public addressed the board on this or other issues in the public session.

Niehaus estimates that if voters approve the two referendum questions, the owner of a $200,000 house would pay about $170 more a year in taxes - $114 for the construction bonds and $56 for the operating expenses tax increase.

He said the planning team worked hard to get to a price that would be acceptable to the public.

"It's the best value we can have for what we want to achieve in 2015," said board member John Puzauskas.

Niehaus said negotiations for acquiring the site for the future middle school continue. He and the district's negotiating team will meet with area landowners and other interested people at 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at Bloomington City Hall to discuss the plans further.

As for the tax rate increase, Niehaus said it would not correct the district's cash flow problems as soon as other options would, but it would do so within five years. Going this route allows the district to put the question on the ballot.

Board member Mark Pritchett said it is important that residents have a chance to cast a ballot on a tax increase.

"It's the first time the community will have an opportunity to vote," he said.

Although not explicitly discussed Wednesday, officials have noted some people objected to funding construction of Heartland Community College buildings and U.S. Cellular Coliseum without binding referendums.

"I hope the community won't take the opportunity to say 'no' to something," said board member Meta Mickens-Baker.

"It's been 25 years since we increased the education tax rate," said board member Gail Ann Briggs. "It's very difficult to ask for more money," she said.

"We need the money to operate our schools, it's as simple as that," Puzauskas said.

"It's important to realize that these (the two referendums) goes hand in hand," Reece said.

If only the building bonds are approved, for example, the district would once again face the problem of not having enough money to operate its buildings. It would likely have to make even more cuts to cover the costs of operating more schools, Reece said.

"I hope voters recognize that good education is part of a vibrant community," Reece said.