In a unanimous vote, members of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board moved ahead with plans to place a tax referendum on the May 3rd primary election ballot.  The proposal before the voters will ask for 12.75 cents more per $100 of assessed valuation in property tax revenue, on top of the 10 cent rate established in a 2009 operating expense referendum.  The total amount to be listed in the referendum language will be 22.75 cents.

If approved, this rate increase would apply to all property owners, no matter where you live in the school district, according to HSE Chief Financial Officer Mike Reuter.  Because this is an increase on the total tax rate, which would impact all property in the HSE district. Reuter added that businesses taking advantage of certain tax abatement programs, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF), would still pay any property tax amount approved in a referendum.

School Superintendent Allen Bourff went to great lengths in detailing the needs.  The most important is reducing class sizes by hiring more teachers.  If approved, Bourff told the board he would utilize mobile classrooms until new facilities can be constructed to handle the smaller classes.

Bourff told the board “World Class” programs are needed to prepare students for the world students will face, including additional language opportunities.  He also wants to retain and attract staff by beginning to close the pay gap.  HSE schools are in the lower third of pay scales among area school systems.

All board members spoke in favor of placing the referendum on the ballot.