(NOTE: Hamilton Southeastern Schools passed a seven-year operating referendum last year….the following article deals with other Hamilton County school corporations)
By
Fred Swift
Voters in three of Hamilton County’s
six school districts will have an opportunity
this year to decide whether or not to
continue supplementing their local school
funding with property tax revenue. School
boards at Westfield, Sheridan and Carmel
have asked that referendums be placed on
a May 2 special election ballot.
The method of raising school revenue
through referendum is allowed by state law
as a way of giving local school districts
more money than is provided by the annual
distribution of state school assistance.
Most county schools have already
taken advantage of the referendum method
which by law also limits such a special
levy to seven years in duration. If the
school district wants to continue the levy, a
public referendum must be held, and that is
what is being prepared for this spring’s ballot.
The amount of funds to be raised is also
subject to increase or decrease at this time.
Westfield Washington Schools is also
asking voters to approve a capital fund
referendum of about 30 cents per $100 of
assessed valuation for renovation and improvements
at all their schools. The estimated
cost is not to exceed $90 million.
Sheridan Community Schools is asking
to increase its previously adopted referendum
tax rate of 19 cents per $100 to
a “not to exceed” rate of 25 cents per hundred.
This rate would be effective in 2018.
Carmel Clay Schools is expected to
be seeking a 19 cent rate which is slightly
higher than the referendum approved seven
years ago. But, due to slight decreases in
other portions of the school rate, taxpayers
will not see any overall increase in their
school taxes.
In all three referendums, voters will
simply register a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when casting a
ballot. There will be no candidates or other
questions on the ballot. Usually there is no
election in the year following a presidential
election.
In this case, the schools asked for the
special vote and will be paying for the cost
of the election.
Turnout is expected to be light unless a
referendum becomes controversial.