KOKOMO, Ind. — Among the general election losers Tuesday are local school referendums.
Voters in two central Indiana communities said "no" to property tax increases to help fund their public schools.
Kokomo Schools asked property owners for $6.1 million a year in additional revenue from property taxes. The money was targeted for enhanced academic programs, upgrades to technology, and the biggest chunk – $4 million – for staff salaries.
But voters in Kokomo said "no" by more than a 2-to-1 margin, with 68% rejecting the referendum.
"It could impact those future programs, future opportunities for students," said Kokomo Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Sargent during an interview Oct. 10 on the potential impact of a failed referendum.
Voters in the Twin Lakes School Corporation in Monticello also rejected a referendum for $3.5 million a year. Sixty-six percent of voters said "no."
Twin Lakes School Corporation Superintendent Deb Metzger released a statement:
"While the recent referendum did not pass, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing the best possible education for our students at Twin Lakes Schools. Though disappointed, we respect the community’s decision and are grateful to everyone who engaged in the democratic process, shared their perspectives, and supported our schools.
Without the additional funding from the referendum, we face some difficult choices. To continue serving our students effectively, we will need to make adjustments that will impact certain programs, services, and staffing levels. This includes challenging decisions related to maintaining competitive teacher and staff pay, which is essential for attracting and retaining quality educators.
Our dedication to student success remains unwavering, and we will work tirelessly within the resources available to support our students' learning and growth. We will also continue to seek ways to involve the community in this journey, knowing that strong schools are the heart of a thriving community.
Together, we will face these challenges with resilience and continue to make Twin Lakes Schools a place of opportunity and excellence."
The Indiana Coalition for Public Education is calling on the state legislature to fund public schools adequately so that property tax referendums are unnecessary.
"We find it to be an unfortunate circumstance," coalition lobbyist Joel Hand said. "Obviously, we want to have the general public supporting funding for their local public schools. It's a sad state of affairs that public schools feel that they have to run a referendum just in order to make their ends meet."
The coalition argues that public tax dollars belong in public schools. The organization opposes further expansion of voucher programs.
"If we, as a state, value K through 12 education, if we value our public schools, we need to demand that our legislature passes a budget that adequately funds our K through 12 public schools, that at least keeps up with inflation, if not do better than that," Hand said.
One school referendum in Indiana did pass on Tuesday. That was a renewal of a previously approved referendum for Lake Station schools in Lake County. The referendum for $1.4 million annually passed with 60% approval.