Educating the public: Second referendum session attracts more people, but still low turnout

Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Superintendent Jim Roberts give a presentation about a proposed referendum at Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ind., Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. Mike Wolanin | The Republic

More local residents came out to hear Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. officials present their case for a proposed operating referendum during the second of five planned public information sessions Thursday night, but the turnout was still low.

Around 45 people attended the second public information session at Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St., Thursday night. Around 20 people attended the the first public information session, which was held Feb. 6 at Taylorsville Elementary School, 9711 Walnut St.

At least nine of the people in attendance Thursday night were BCSC officials.

The school corporation is seeking voter approval in the May 5 primary for an operating referendum projected to generate around $7.8 million per year in additional property tax revenue to fund teacher and support staff salary increases and student safety.

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During Thursday night’s session, BCSC Superintendent Jim Roberts gave a 55-minute presentation, making his case for why the school corporation believes the referendum is necessary — most notably, an increase in teacher turnover the past several years.

“It is about maintaining, growing, ensuring that there is a quality in the school corporation that ensures the quality and vitality of this community,” Roberts said during the presentation.

If approved by voters in May, the referendum would increase BCSC’s property taxes by $0.156 per $100 of assessed value to roughly $1.01 starting in 2021. BCSC officials initially had sought a $0.195 per $100 of assessed valuation increase, but lowered the request before the public information sessions began.

A total of 86% of the increased property tax revenue would be spent on employee recruitment and retention and 14% on student safety and security, according to figures from BCSC.

According to a property tax calculator on BCSC’s website, a home with an assessed value $141,800 — the average home value in BCSC’s tax district — would see an estimated annual property tax increase of $93.48, or $7.79 per month, under the proposed rate increase.

A property assessed at a value of $300,000 could expect to see an increase of around $253.89 per year under the new proposed rate, or $21.16 per month.

Bartholomew County’s property tax rate in 2019 was $0.8512, lower than the state average of $1.07, according to figures provided by BCSC.

“I think about the teachers I know that created and established traditions, programs, excellence in this community that emanate from our school buildings into the community,” said Chad Phillips, BCSC assistant superintendent. “If that person in that position stayed for three, four or even five years, those things do not exist in this community. …The excellence that our schools have created in this community in terms of traditions have come from the educators who chose to live here and stay here.”

Those who attended were offered opportunities to register to vote, and also to calculate specifically how much the referendum would cost them, based on the assessed value of their property.

Laptop computers was set up in the entry way of the high school auditorium with a program that would provide the information based on the assessed valuation a taxpayer had for their home.

After the presentation, the public asked questions and made comments about the proposed referendum, ranging from inquiries about teacher pensions to unrelated topics such as land the school corporation owns on the west side of the city.

Joe Swaim, 61, of Columbus said he came to the meeting to ask questions.

“I will staunchly question any time the government or anyone wants to raise our taxes because I think we’re taxed to death the way it is and I think taxpayers need to pay attention to what people are using our tax dollars for,” Swaim said. “…I think teachers need raises. However, what are we doing to cut out waste and everything in the schools?”

Swaim said he intends to vote against the referendum.

Kristen Shipley, 31, of Columbus, a former administrative assistant at Columbus Signature Academy Lincoln Elementary School, told Roberts that she left her position at BCSC for financial reasons and that her husband, a sixth-grade teacher at CSA Lincoln, has been mulling whether he should too.

“We’ve had serious conversations about him leaving BCSC to make $15,000 more at (Indianapolis Public Schools), and it is literally only for the money,” Shipley said. “…When I worked for a BCSC school and he worked for a BCSC school, my kids were on free and reduced lunch.”

Shipley said her husband will likely stay at BCSC but an increase in teacher salaries would mean a lot to her family.

“He loves what he does but, ultimately, you come to a ‘T’ in the road where you have to make more money because bills go up, our kids are getting older, they require more money,” she said.

Shipley said he intends to vote in favor of the referendum.

Thursday’s meeting was the second of five public information sessions BCSC officials plan to offer the public information about the referendum and to answer questions.

Upcoming sessions will be held at 6 p.m. at the following locations:

Rockcreek Elementary School, 13000 E. County Road 200S, on Feb. 27

Mt. Healthy Elementary School,12150 E. State Road 58, on March 24

Central Middle School, 725 7th St., on March 31

Roberts said that while turnout Thursday night was higher than at the first public information session, he would like to see more people attend.

“With each of these (sessions), we want to make sure that everybody in this community is well educated on this topic, regardless of what they end up deciding,” Roberts said. “…If they are choosing to vote, and then they vote on this question, do they have as much information as they can have before deciding that ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote? Our attempt at getting as many as possible to understand that is getting out at these public sessions.”

On Jan. 28, local residents David Doup and Tony Gambaiani formed a political action committee, called Yes for BCSC Political Action Committee, “to support Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s 2020 referendum,” according to public records. The PAC had its kickoff meeting on Wednesday at The Commons.

Doup is listed as committee chairperson, and Gambaiani is listed as the treasurer and custodian of records, the filing states.

So far, the PAC has raised around $10,000, Gambaiani said.

“We’re going to be doing a lot of grassroots efforts, getting on the telephones, hitting the neighborhoods,” Gambaiani said.

The first round of campaign finance reports for the PAC are due April 17 at noon, said Bartholomew County Clerk Jay Phelps.

“State law limits the ability of a school corporation to proactively advocate for a given referendum,” Roberts said. “Given those limits, it is helpful to the school corporation if individuals choose to voluntarily organize a group that is able to specifically promote a ‘yes’ vote.”

Janice Montgomery, committee co-chair and a former BCSC teacher, said the PAC has solicited donations to purchase campaign yard signs and T-shirts to support the referendum.

“We have already started distributing yard signs and T-shirts,” she said.

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Visit bcsc.k12.in.us/referendum for more information on the referendum.

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On this year’s May 5 primary ballot, Bartholomew County voters will be asked to vote yes or no on the following question:

"For the eight (8) calendar years immediately following the holding of the referendum, shall Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation impose a property tax rate that does not exceed fifteen and six tenths cents ($0.156) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation and that is in addition to all other property taxes imposed by the School Corporation for the purpose of increasing compensation for teachers and support staff and maintaining student safety?"

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There are four additional public referendum information sessions, each at 6 p.m.:

  • Feb. 27 at Rockcreek Elementary, 13000 E. County Road 200S
  • March 24 at Mt. Healthy Elementary, 12150 S. State Road 58
  • March 31 at Central Middle School, 725 7th St.

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