Prairie State Wire

Shannon McClurg, a community petition organizer in Effingham, Illinois, announced that a petition has successfully exceeded the required signature threshold to oppose a bond measure. This statement was made on the Prairie State Wire Podcast.

"The community had 30 days to get 1,382 signatures, which is 10% of our voters," said McClurg, Sales Associate Secretary. "And if we got that and turned them in correctly, and I don't think people understand that you have to turn them in in a certain way. We got over 2,800 signatures on each petition."

Illinois has faced growing controversy over "backdoor bond" measures, which allow school districts to borrow without direct voter approval unless challenged by petition. In 2024, state lawmakers passed Public Act 103-0591, permitting districts to issue bonds for early childhood construction without triggering referendums. According to Wirepoints, residents in Effingham attempted to block such borrowing but were thwarted by the new law, which they argue reduces public control over debt decisions.

In a recent Effingham County case, residents submitted 2,855 signatures on one petition and 2,814 on another to force a referendum on school bond borrowing. The Bond Buyer reported that both petitions exceeded the thresholds typical for such challenges but were nullified due to changes in state law. Petitioners claimed they met the required percentage of registered voters, but their effort was dismissed following Governor Pritzker’s signing of the 2024 amendment.

Illinois voters have approved the majority of school bond referendums in recent cycles despite legislative efforts to bypass them. According to the Illinois Association of School Boards, in the November 2024 election, 13 out of 20 bond measures passed, while in April 2025, 10 of 16 passed. This suggests that when referendums occur, voters often support school borrowing, casting doubt on the need to limit petition-triggered votes.

McClurg is a sales associate and community petition organizer in Effingham. As reported by The Bond Buyer, she helped collect thousands of signatures to oppose school district bond plans in 2024. Her professional background includes work at The Automall of Effingham and her LinkedIn profile lists her as a University of Illinois alumna. She has no publicly confirmed government role beyond her advocacy efforts.

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FULL, UNEDITED TRANSCRIPT

Bryan Hyde: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Prairie State Wire Podcast. I'm Brian Hyde. Today I'm joined by Shannon McClure. Shannon, I asked you before we, we went on the podcast, what's the best title to describe you? And I was very happy and surprised to hear you say, I am a citizen. Now we're gonna talk about some things specifically that you're doing as a citizen, but take a moment here and tell our listeners a little about.

To yourself and a little about your background, and then let's talk about a very specific issue that will be of interest to Illinois citizens. 

Shannon McClurg: Okay. My family are local business owners, and I work for a family run business less than 10 employees. Three years ago I was asked to run for Douglas Township, Douglas four Precinct committee person, which I didn't know what that was or what it entailed, but.

I got petition signed. Five people said, yeah, we'll vote for you or 10, and I became the precinct committee person and probably took me two and a half years to figure out what that [00:01:00] actually was. And now I'm the secretary for Effingham County, but for what's going on here? Me and a neighbor, or a neighbor and I were talking about the school was gonna raise our property taxes and take out bonds for $57 million, and we had just voted down in November, 2024, the 1% retail sales tax for the schools.

So 57 of the 102 counties in Illinois. Have a 1% retail sales tax, that extra that they charge. And we have voted it down four times since 2014, our community, so they decided that since we didn't give 'em that money, that they were going to raise our property taxes and we didn't want that to happen. We were not, we weren't in for all that.

So I learned a lot about what was happening and how the government in Illinois. Made that a [00:02:00] possibility. 

Bryan Hyde: I don't wanna spoil a surprise here for our listeners, but ultimately you prevailed right in, in, we did stopping this, this, this raising of taxes, correct? 

Shannon McClurg: Yes. In May 22nd, they put a public notice of intent in the paper for a $38 million bond and million dollar bond and a $19 million bond.

The community had 30 days to get 1,382 signatures, which is 10% of our voters. And if we got that and turned them in correctly, and I don't think people understand that you have to turn them in in a certain way. And, and we figured that all out and we got 2,800, over 2,800 signatures on each petition. And so in 25 days.

So our community, we got the word out. It ended up two ladies talking at a funeral. Ended up we had over a [00:03:00] hundred volunteers that step up and went around and got signatures and we got the petition signed and we turned them into the school on the 30th day. And they rescinded the bonds. They did. They didn't even put, we were just asking for a vote.

Because they took, it's called a, a backdoor referendum. And so they took away our ability to vote on this building project, and they decided not to even put it on the ballot in March. So we're kind of flabbergasted if it was so important that you had to have the money for $57 million for a city that has 13,200 people, that's so much.

That's a lot of money. 

Bryan Hyde: Oh yeah. 

Shannon McClurg: And that's, that's just one. You know it, it's not the city. It's not the county. It, that's just the school 57 million. And so, but we would, we did, they rescinded the bonds and [00:04:00] so they're going back to square one to see what they wanna do next. 

Bryan Hyde: Shannon, I want to. Walk back a couple of steps.

Fir, first of all, congratulations that, that to me, getting involved like you did and actually affecting change, as you mentioned, this was not an overnight snap your fingers flip a switch kind of pro process. I'm sure there was a lot to it that you had to learn on the go, but I, I'd love to, I'd love to know, did you learn as you were part of this process?

Did you, did you have any idea what you were biting off or what you were getting involved in when, when you agreed to, to step up and do something? 

Shannon McClurg: I, when I decided to, when I went to the board meeting and I started asking questions on May 19th and realized that they were gonna put the bond in that we could not, they did not care that we were at that meeting saying No.

And I said, well, I will walk door to door and I will get as many signatures and I will come back with however many I need. Because there's no way that [00:05:00] seven people in a room should be able to make this decision for this community. And the school board at that point, they put projects on hold for 30 days projects that they were trying to push forward.

And it ended up all of those project, there were five different things that they were wanting to do. All but one got canceled. I had no idea what I was getting into, and I had no idea. When we got over 28, we got twenty eight hundred and fifty five on the $38 million bond, and we got 2,814 signatures on the $19 million bond.

I had no idea that in 25 days that that was a big deal. I didn't know that that was a hard task. I mean, we just kept pushing. We want more, we want more. We wanted it extra in case one of, in case something got challenged, we didn't know that. They could challenge our signatures. I didn't know who to give them to.

We had no legal counsel. Finally, at the end, we did get to talk to somebody and you know, [00:06:00] just said, sounds like you guys are doing great. You guys are right on path. So you know, it, we were very lucky that some of our connections, we knew how to do petitions because they had done 'em for state officials, for Darren Bailey.

So there were people in our group that. Could help in that aspect and make sure that you had everything signed and everything sit circled and Effingham at the top and the county. And there's just all kinds of little, you know, things that you have to do. So it was pretty extraordinary. But it's also like if, if we could do it, anybody in the state could do it.

So that's like the biggest thing that if Effingham can do it and you want something to change in your town, and we actually. The town 20 miles from us is called Brownstown two oh, unit 2 0 1, and they put a notice of intent in their school PA in their paper for a $7.2 million bond. This is a town of [00:07:00] 1500.

They have to get 159 signatures, which they have gotten over 159 signatures as of right now. But they've also been told that that school board's gonna challenge each signature. 

Bryan Hyde: Wow. 

Shannon McClurg: And so, you know, they have to go through and they have to make sure that they have, like we did, we were like, we want an extra, if this one's challenged, we want another signature.

So they're going through that process right now and, um, they've got about two, about 10 days before it's due. So we're just hoping beyond hope that they can 'cause that community can 7.2 million. 

Bryan Hyde: Shannon tell, tell me this, as you were out there collecting signatures, I mean, it sounds like you, you gathered a remarkable amount of signatures in a very short time.

Did people understand? The, the process by which their, their property taxes were likely to, to go up or, you know, the 1% retail sales tax, you know, could be [00:08:00] implemented. Is, is that something they understand well, or is this one of those areas of, of civics, you know, particularly local civics that most people tend to just outsource to, you know, to elected officials?

Shannon McClurg: Correct. No, nobody knew, understood what was going on. And the one thing that if we just made it about the vote. Our vote, our right, so a vote is being taken away and not discuss the taxes. Like if the school need, if this school deserves extra money, that's a whole nother subject. So it had to be broken down into, we have the right to vote until Governor Pritzker passed the law LA in 2024.

In July of 2024, he signed a bill HB 25 82, I believe. 25 82. And if a school district enlarges the classroom for pre-K and kindergarten, they do not have [00:09:00] to ask the people about it. And they just can put a notice that, hey, this is what we're doing. And then if we would not have gotten these signatures in July, our property taxes would've gone up 13 to 17%.

Our taxes were already going up 2023 or last year. They went up because assessed values went up. They were going up again this year because of assessed values going up. So this would've been on top of two hikes and it would, it was just, yeah. Nobody understood what was happening. So we were very lucky that Facebook, I started at Facebook, we, the people, Effingham, Illinois, and we had, I had zero people on May 13th and today I think it has 1200 or 1300 people.

Bryan Hyde: Wow. 

Shannon McClurg: Um. So, and that was by June 19th? June 20th, we had 12 to 1300 people. So, [00:10:00] and then there's another group in Effingham and called Effingham Insider, and they're a private group and they allowed us to put stuff on there and spread the word. And some of our posts were seen by 11 to 12,000 people. 

Bryan Hyde: You're making, making pretty big waves there for, for grassroots action.

Are, are you surprised to, to be able to have that kind of impact? Because it sounds like a lot of it was showing up in the first place, but then it sounds like you, you were able to find people and convince them this, this is a petition worth signing. 

Shannon McClurg: I'm shocked. I just went to Aldi and a lady said, Shannon.

I looked at her and I go, hi. She goes, Shannon McClure. And I'm like, she goes, I recognize your picture from we the people. And so I, I'm shocked. And so, and the lady she was talking to said, oh, what happened with that? Are they raising the property tax? And I go, no. They, they were rescinded. They rescinded it.

So the word [00:11:00] spreading. And so it's a good deal and I'm shocked and I just think that, I don't know, I think. 

Bryan Hyde: Let me ask you this, Shannon, as, as far as getting people motivated to take an active part in self-governance, what, what would you like to see? You know, you've, you've accomplished something very noteworthy here.

Are, are there things that you are likewise focusing on, either policy-wise or maybe even the opportunity to bring people together on, on other issues that affect your township? I'm, I'm just curious if this is opening other doors of, of inviting people to be more a part of this process. 

Shannon McClurg: I think that other people have reached out and asked for their communities, how?

How can they do that? So Brownstown is one. There's another local community that a gentleman asked me. He's like, Hey, we have s we have, he's supposed to call me later. He's like, I've seen what you're doing and can you help me? And I'm like, well, can we get more information and see what we need to do? But [00:12:00] I think it's, you just have to get some people that are willing to step up.

And once that happens, 'cause it was a core group, there were six of us. Our core group and that it wasn't just me, right? Shannon didn't do all this. It was a core group of six people. So when I was like, oh, I'm just gonna step back and we'll just, you know, and there was another one going, no, we're gonna do this, we're gonna have a drive through petition.

And there was a local business, Shelby Realty, that said, Hey, you can have drive through petition signing. So here I am posting on Facebook. Just come, we'll be there from five to seven. You can come by and sign in your convenience. So it's, I think it's finding what's important in your community and getting a core group of really good people that are willing to step up and you can make things, I don't wanna say make, you can get things to happen, right?

Because people will get behind you if it's a good idea and not, we're very conservative in this part of the state, so I [00:13:00] don't know where prayer, I don't know where you're at, but. In Ingham, Illinois, we're, we're really conservative, you know, we want fiscal responsibility. 

Bryan Hyde: Well, and as, as conservatives in Illinois, you guys are pushing back against a, a state apparatus that has been legendary blue for, for so many generations that I know.

Some, some people feel like, oh, well it's a, it's a lost cause. But I hear stories like yours and I think. No, that's really not a lost cause. This is, it's really just a matter of getting people involved. And it sounds like you've done a wonderful job of getting people involved at the local level. Out of curiosity, what excuses did you hear from people who became aware of the problem but still just didn't wanna get involved?

What, what excuse did they give for not stepping up? 

Shannon McClurg: The people that did not were the people that wanted, they did not care how they got the money. They wanted the money for the building. So. The one, the people in the community that were, that [00:14:00] believed hell or high water, we're gonna have that money for that building.

And if we have to raise your property taxes, that's what we're gonna do. Those were the ones that I had put, that we got pushback from because the school deserves it. And so it was more about you, you gotta just make it. And we, you gotta make it about the vote and then you have to be able to have a conversation and sit down to dinner afterwards, or go to Sunday school afterwards or, you know, still meet at church afterwards, or still have a good conversation at the ball game afterwards.

You know it. Yeah, you, you have to work together for good things. And we have a community that does that at the county level, and I believe the city level. I, I think this was just one of those things that went off the rails. 

Bryan Hyde: Again, we are talking with Shannon McClure Shannon, for, for people who want to get more involved, are, are there any [00:15:00] organizations, websites, or other ways that you might direct people to, to step up and, and get started wherever they happen to be?

Shannon McClurg: If you see a need, you just, you have to start it yourself. You know, if there's not an organization, so a lot of Google search, gosh, AI is just amazing how much it will help you out and tell you which way to go. You're welcome to come to We the People, Effingham, Illinois, and we'll be happy to see if we can direct you in a certain way, but I think most part is just stepping up for yourself and finding where you, what path you need to go on.

Bryan Hyde: Well, Shannon, I appreciate your time on the Prairie State Wire Podcast today, and I especially appreciate you showing us. It can be done. Thanks. It can be done. Thanks for being our guest. 

Shannon McClurg: Thank you. 

Bryan Hyde: This is the Prairie State Wire [00:16:00] Podcast.