The operating referendum passed by voters in the HSE School District will be expiring and a renewal of the referendum property tax rate is expected to be on the primary election ballot in May of 2023.  That’s what the district’s Chief Financial Officer Cecilie Nunn told school board members Wednesday night.

The current referendum is generating $22 million per year for the local school district.  There is no indication at this time whether the school board will opt to renew the current referendum tax rate, ask taxpayers for more or less in that referendum vote.

The loss of roughly 400 students in the current school year has resulted in the need to cut the 2021-2022 school year spending by $5 million.  The state of Indiana reimburses school districts based on their student population.  Nunn says a budget-cutting committee is already meeting and is making progress.  A report to the board is expected from that group soon.

Nunn points to recent years’ school property tax rates, which have declined slightly in recent years.  She credits increases in assessed valuation of property within the school district as the main reason for the lower tax rates.