This story has been updated.

At times, the questions came in rapid succession for Community Consolidated School District 15 officials who appeared Thursday, Oct. 21 before a citizens group determined to defeat a Nov. 2 referendum.

Still, the overall tone of the meeting hosted by Citizens for Accountability in D15 was respectful. Many of the 20 or so in attendance expressed frustration, but also acknowledged that interim Superintendent Scott Thompson was not the source of that frustration.

"God bless him for coming," said Palatine resident and Citizens for Accountability in D15 member Mary Vanek toward the end of the 90-minute meeting.

On Nov. 2 voters will decide whether to authorize District 15 to issue $27 million in bonds. The issue was forced to a referendum after the citizen's group led a petition drive that generated more than 7,500 signatures.

All of that, however, predated Thompson's arrival in the district this summer. Since joining the district Thompson has made community engagement and building trust a top priority. On Nov. 16 Thompson will kick-off Navigate 15, a community outreach initiative. Navigate 15's first meeting will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Winston Campus.

Thompson has recommended that if the referendum pass no more than $16 million in bonds be issued and that the money only be used for capital projects such as replacing roofs at several schools. However, Thompson admitted that the school board ultimately would decide whether to issue the full $27 million and what to spend the money on. If Thompson's recommendation were followed, the cost to an owner of a $220,000 home would be about $15 more in property taxes annually.

Mike Cannon, a District 15 resident from Rolling Meadows, said the school district should have adequately planned for long range capital needs.

"Any business that did not plan to cover maintenance and building expenses would go broke," Cannon said.

Several audience members asked questions that expressed a similar sentiment.

Thompson admitted the district had not had a strategic, long-term plan to take care of facilities.

"We want to create a long-term plan that takes care of the bricks and mortar so we can focus on the education of children," Thompson said.

At one point Thompson mentioned that Lincoln School has a roof that leaks. Audience members wanted to know why the roof hadn't been fixed, pointing out the district currently has fund balances in excess of $55 million.

"We are going to take care of the roof at Lincoln regardless of the referendum," Thompson said.

Thompson and Michael Adamczyk, assistant superintendent for business and auxiliary services, said part of the district's problem had been turnover. They pointed out that over the last three years, three different people worked on the budget. Adamczyk also joined the district this summer.

"We've got to do a good job," Thompson said.

Thompson said the district wanted to maintain fund balances because of pressing future needs and that the referendum would allow them to address capital needs. Adamczyk presented a five-year budget forecast to the school board earlier this month that showed the district's reserves being eroded down to about $30 million by the end of 2015 by annual budget deficits.

Later in the meeting, Citizens for Accountability in D15 member Scott Herr addressed the group. Herr said that District 15's stated goal for its reserve funds is 30 percent of its budget, or about $41 million.

Herr said the district currently has $55 million, or an excess of reserves of about $14.5 million. Her said that money plus the money District 15 budgets each year for capital projects should be enough to address many of the needs of the district.

As for the district's long-term financial issues, Herr said the solution was to balance future budgets.

Update: Interim Superintendent Scott Thompson sent an e-mail Oct. 22 saying that he had learned that the Lincoln School roof had been repaired.