A Look Ahead: Stories to Watch in 2012

Last week, I spent time looking back at the events and people that defined 2011 for Romeoville. This week, it's all about looking ahead and what stories will be shaping the upcoming year.

Here are the five headlines that I think will be dominating headlines in the months to come:

The has , asking voters for the go-ahead to allow a group of communities to negotiate electricity rates for residents. Romeoville, Bolingbrook and Lemont are among more than a dozen Will County Governmental League communities looking into electric aggregation, which means combining the electrical loads of each community, with the league acting as a broker to try to secure the best rate for residents.

Along with the electricity referendum, March's ballots will feature the primary races for , as well as and seats. This will all be an overture to the November's big election that will determine the representatives for a completely reworked district map at , state and . Oh, and did we mention it's a presidential election year, too?

By 2014, area commuters will have more options when a opens. The station, to be located south of the CITGO Lemont Refinery near 135th Street and New Avenue, will also be the center of a planned , with the potential for retail, industrial and residential development, not to mention open space and recreation. The village is also working on plans for the redevelopment of the Route 53 corridor into a new . A rep for East Side lead project consultant Teska Associates said residents will be able to view final plans for the project by mid- to late February.

Coping with several consecutive years of declining property values and ever-decreasing state funding (not to mention the state’s current debt of $4 million), Valley View School District is and also continuing its efforts to restructure its own debt. In December, the board of education , a 4.77 percent increase over the previous year. The actual tax rate — and the impact on taxpayers — won’t be determined until the spring, when the board approves next year’s budget.

WHAT OTHER STORIES WILL BE MAKING HEADLINES IN 2012? Tell us in the comments section.