An Edinburgh schools referendum that would increase property taxes will appear on voters’ ballots in May.
The Johnson County Election Board unanimously approved Edinburgh Community School Corporation’s request to ask voters in Blue River Township to increase their property taxes to support enhanced school safety and teacher raises during an election board meeting Tuesday morning.
The tax hike would raise the education contribution of property owners in Blue River Township about 40%, to $1.45 for every $100 of assessed value from $1.06. Bartholomew County residents in German Township who live within the school district’s boundaries would also be subject to the hike.
The increase would cost the owner of a $96,800 home, which is the median home value in the district, an additional $9.97 a month, while the owner of a $200,000 home would pay an additional $31.77 a month. Translated to annual figures, the owner of a $96,800 home would pay about $120 more, while the owner of a $200,000 home would pay about $381 more. All figures are estimates from Baker Tilly U.S. LLP, a Chicago-based public accounting and consulting firm.
The Edinburgh school board unanimously approved placing the referendum question on the spring ballot earlier this year. The primary election is May 3.
The need for a referendum comes as Edinburgh schools finds itself in the midst of declining student population, down almost 10% since the 2015-16 school year, which has resulted in about $600,000 less in state dollars, the equivalent of 10 first-year teacher salaries and benefits, superintendent Ron Ross said earlier this year.
If successful, the referendum would raise an estimated $701,590 a year over the course of eight years.
Measures would include improving school entrance security and increasing the number of security cameras at the schools, as well as stop arms cameras for school buses and teacher raises, Ross said.
This is the fourth referendum for Johnson County schools since 2018.
In November 2018, 57% of voters passed a referendum that allowed Clark-Pleasant schools to raise money for mental health and school security. Franklin schools also had a successful referendum in May 2019, when 63% of voters approved a property tax hike that allowed the district to raise teacher salaries and provide mental health support. Center Grove schools proposed a referendum in November 2019, but 64% of voters rejected the measure that would have raised $24.8 million for safety and security efforts, as well as mental health and behavioral support for students.
The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance approved the Edinburgh schools referendum earlier this month. Once the complete ballot is ready for review, Edinburgh school officials, along with county party officials, will review the question and confirm everything is correct before the final ballot is set, said Trena McLaughlin, Johnson County clerk.
Now that Johnson County has approved adding the question to the ballot, it will be sent to Bartholomew County to be added to their ballot as well. Just one Bartholomew County precinct is covered by the district, said Shari Lentz, Bartholomew County clerk.
