Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. officials will seek 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.
BCSC school board members on Monday unanimously approved placing the referendum on the May 5 primary ballot during the board’s meeting at Northside Middle School, located 1400 27th St. Around 50 people attended the meeting.
If approved by voters, 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.
After the meeting, BCSC Superintendent Jim Roberts said he felt good about the board’s decision.
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“I’m hoping that people, like our board, are seeing it as a true investment in our children and, therefore, in our entire community,” he said. “Hopefully, it is perceived that way.”
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.
During Monday’s meeting, five members of the public commented about the referendum, with two speaking against the proposed tax increase and three speaking in favor.
Shirley Phares, 76, of Columbus said while she has no problem with teachers getting a raise, she was concerned about how a potential property tax increase would impact retirees on a fixed income, as well as lower income and middle class taxpayers.
“When you’re a retiree on fixed income, you’re concerned about them raising your taxes,” she said. “The city does it every year. So, you know, when I get my taxes raised, that’s my income going out. I’m not going to get a raise.”
John Burnett, president and CEO of the Community Education Coalition, spoke in favor of the referendum, saying it will help the “long-term viability of our community.”
After Monday’s vote, school board member Pat Bryant said he voted to place the referendum on the ballot because he believes pay increases for teachers and support staff will help cut down on teacher turnover and benefit students.
“Our kids need a teacher that is going to be there for them not just for one year, not just for two years, but for years. When I say years, I’m saying 15, 20 years,” Bryant said. “…We need to pay our teachers so they will stay.”
School board member Jeff Caldwell said he voted to place the referendum on the ballot because teacher salaries are not commensurate with their importance to the community.
“For me, it’s just recognition of the importance of the teachers’ role to our children and their development. Seeing that and seeing where their compensation is, it isn’t appropriate,” Caldwell said. “…(Teachers) did not make a vow of poverty, they actually chose to do something that they think is a meaningful profession, and I agree with that.”
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Pending approval from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, the referendum question that would appear on the May 5 primary ballot would be:
"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 ($0.1560) 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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Visit bcsc.k12.in.us/domain/3345 for more information about the referendum.
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