Staff Reports
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. has scheduled a series of public information sessions for residents to learn more about a proposed operating referendum.
BCSC is seeking voter approval 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.
On Jan. 13, the BCSC school board unanimously approved placing the referendum on the May 5 primary ballot.
Sessions are planned at:
6 p.m. Feb 6, Taylorsville Elementary School, 9711 Walnut St., Taylorsville
6 p.m. Feb. 20, Columbus North High School, 1400 25th St., Columbus
6 p.m. Feb. 27, Rockcreek Elementary School, 13000 E. County Road 200S, Columbus
6 p.m. March 24, Mt. Healthy Elementary School,12150 E. State Road 58, Columbus
6 p.m. March 31, Central Middle School, 725 Seventh St., Columbus
BCSC Superintendent Jim Roberts and BCSC Assistant Superintendent Chad Phillips will share information and answer questions at the sessions.
BCSC officials also announced they are available to speak to community or neighborhood groups. To schedule that, contact Shari Christman at the BCSC administration building by calling 812-376-4220 or email christmans@bcsk.k12.in.us.
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.
The referendum, however, is not officially on the ballot yet. BCSC officials said they would submit the referendum question to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, of DLGF, for review, which is required by state law.
If the wording of the question is approved by the DLGF, BCSC officials have until Feb. 21 to work with county election officials to get the referendum on the ballot, said DLGF spokeswoman Jenny Banks.
BCSC officials said the school corporation needs the additional funds, in large part, because the level of state funding BCSC receives is not enough to be competitive when attempting to recruit and retain teachers and support staff.
BCSC has seen an uptick in teacher turnover over roughly the past eight years, with the average number of teacher resignations nearly tripling from around 17 between the 2003-04 and 2010-11 school years to 49 from the 2011-12 school year until present. Similarly, the average number of new teachers hired also has increased from an average of 47 between the 2005-06 and 2011-12 school years to 76 from the 2012-13 school year until now.
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.
The additional property tax revenue generated would be entirely used to fund teacher and support staff salary increases and student safety, said BCSC Assistant Superintendent Chad Phillips.
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.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Where to learn more” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
To learn more about the proposed Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. referendum, visit bcsc.k12.in.us/referendum.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
