Indiana is rarely a player during the presidential primary process in either party, but during this election cycle, Indiana is important to both party nomination processes.  But even with all the attention heaped on the presidential primaries, the most important decision for voters in Fishers (and some adjacent areas in the Hamilton Southeastern School {HSE} School District) lies in the first item appearing on your voting machine.

That item is a yes or no vote for the HSE Schools.  Yes means you are voting in favor of a property tax increase to fund the local schools.  A no vote means our local school corporation will take a huge financial hit.

My wife and I chose to live in Fishers after our marriage in 1991.  We didn’t choose to reside here because of the schools, but we knew a strong school system leads to a vibrant community and at least stable property values, if not increased value over time.

Then our twin daughters came along in 1994 and that settled it – we were in Fishers to stay. We knew the local schools were top-notch and wanted our daughters to be educated here. It was a good decision.

Both girls were educated in HSE Schools from kindergarten through their senior year of high school. They will both admit their education prepared them well for university-level courses.  Both are set to graduate from college May 7th.

The wonderful education my daughters received from HSE Schools is now endangered for the students of today.  A serious budget crisis is facing our local schools, and the HSE School Board is now acting by placing this referendum on the May 3rd election ballot.

The state of Indiana provides most of the money that pays local school staff, with a large share of that cash going to teacher compensation.  The property taxes we pay fund the buildings, some maintenance, transportation and some other odds and ends, unless an operating referendum is approved.

The state of Indiana funding for local schools uses a complex formula, and allows more funding per student in districts with higher percentages of kids on free or reduced lunch programs (translated: students from lower-income families).  As a result, HSE Schools, with a lower percentage of free and reduced lunch students, is third from the bottom in the entire state for per-student financial support from the state legislature.  Only Carmel and Zionsville get less state support compared to HSE.

The state did provide some relief in the most recent budget cycle, but that didn’t remedy years of state support far below the annual increased cost of doing business.

The HSE School Board asked voters to approve a 10 cent property tax increase in 2009. School officials sold that plebiscite by promising new and enhanced programs for students.  The referendum passed.

Then, as a result of the severe economic downturn going on at the time, Governor Mitch Daniels was forced to slash state support to local school corporations late in 2009.  Many school districts were forced to slash spending, lay-off staff and close buildings.  HSE didn’t get the enhanced programs promised by the 2009 referendum, but our local schools never suffered like others around the state because of the referendum money in place.

Referendum votes to support operating expenses only last for 7 years.  The 2009 referendum will expire at the end of 2016 (remember, 2010 was year one, 2011 year two, etc.).

There is a great deal at stake in this referendum vote.  If this referendum fails, HSE will lose the 10 cents per $100 of assessed valuation in place the past seven years, and will not receive the increase of 12.75 cents being requested in this vote.

If this vote fails, HSE will lose 50 teaching positions next year and 50 teaching positions the following year.  That’s 100 fewer teachers over the next two years.  Class sizes would skyrocket.

There will certainly be cuts in academic programs and extra curricular activities.  In short, the cuts, should this referendum fail, will be very painful.

But, on the other hand, if the referendum passes, more staff can be hired.  Class sizes will be reduced.  Fees and payments called Pay-to-Play would be reduced, and in some instances ended.  Book rental fees will be reduced, based on my Podcast interview with Superintendent Allen Bourff.

HSE Schools will also be more competitive for teachers with a better compensation package.  Our teachers would be at about the Indianapolis-area average in compensation if the referendum passes.

The Political Action Committee advocating for a yes vote, Advance HSE, has a calculator to determine how much your property tax would increase if the referendum passes.  You can access that calculator at this link.

Yes, my taxes will increase too if this referendum receives a majority yes vote.

There are a number of facts that you must consider as you decide how to vote on this school funding referendum.  I have tried to look at the facts.  I have summarized many of them already.  Here are two more for your consideration.

There has been no organized opposition to this referendum.  This is a bit of a surprise.  But it speaks volumes that no group of people has chosen to get together and oppose this referendum

After covering the school board for a few years now, I know the long list of tough decisions that have been made in recent years to cut spending.  This board has cut everything possible, and has tried mightily to spare the classroom as much as possible.  This has become more and more difficult with each passing year.  This board is composed of some fairly conservative people.  They were very careful in making the decision of asking for a funding referendum, and have been just as careful in deciding how much to ask from local taxpayers to fund the schools.

Some people have asked why I have not covered opponents of this referendum.  The reason is – I have found very few.  I covered two public meetings by the school district to discuss the referendum, and have summarized objections raised at these meetings.  Bottom line is this – there has been little public opposition to this referendum.

I am not in the business of telling people how to vote.  I would ask you to consider this.  I no longer have any children in the local schools.  I know my taxes will increase…not a lot, by there will be an increase.  I have looked at all the facts.  The local school officials have made a compelling case for a yes vote.  I would ask that you look at the facts, and make an informed and educated decision on your vote.