On May 3, 2022, residents of the Valparaiso Community Schools district will have an opportunity to renew, at a reduced rate, the Operating Referendum passed in 2015, if the school board proceeds with a resolution.
The school board will hold a meeting on Monday February 7, 2022, at 6:00 pm in the Valparaiso Community Schools Administration Building (3801 N. Campbell St.) to consider a resolution that begins the process of placing the renewal on the ballot. The meeting will be both livestreamed and archived on the district’s YouTube channel.
School Board President Karl Cender said, “The referendum funding approved by voters in 2015 allowed more flexibility to keep class sizes low, provided more curriculum offerings, and more career path choices. Renewing the referendum at a reduced rate maintains and allows for continued improvements.”
Superintendent Dr. Jim McCall will give a presentation Monday, February 7, 2022, outlining how the 2015 referendum provided the necessary funding to prevent the closing and consolidation of neighborhood elementary schools. A yes vote continues to provide a level of funding necessary to adequately staff and maintain Valparaiso schools with reduced taxes.
If the operating referendum renewal is approved, the maximum tax rate on the school tax bill will decrease over one-fourth of the present rate, dropping from $0.2042 to $0.1495 per $100 of net assessed value. If the referendum passes, the cost to the owner of a two-hundred thousand dollar home would be reduced by $53 with continued cost of about $12 a month. A referendum calculator will be posted allowing property tax payers to see the impact of the reduced rate on their individual parcels.
In 2015, Valparaiso demonstrated that it is a community with pride in the quality of education children receive in its schools. Passing the referendum at a reduced rate will allow Valparaiso schools to remain among the best in the state.
The language of the question on the ballot was recently changed by the Indiana legislature. It is crucial to note that this new language includes a formula which does not fully reflect the lowering of the tax rate.
The question will appear on a ballot as shown here:
“Shall Valparaiso Community Schools continue to impose increased property taxes paid to the school corporation by homeowners and businesses for eight (8) years immediately following the holding of the referendum for the purpose of managing class sizes and essential health & safety initiatives, retaining teachers and staff, funding academic and educationally related programs and changing the maximum operating referendum tax levy fund rate from $0.2042 to $0.1495 per one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation? The property tax increase requested in this referendum was originally approved by the voters in May, 2015, and originally increased the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a residence within the school corporation by TBD% and originally increased the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a business property within the school corporation by TBD%.”
Dr McCall explained, “Monday’s resolution is a preliminary approval in order to allow the referendum to be on the May ballot. Next, the language will be sent for approval from the Department of Local Government Finance, before being returned to the County Election Board for certification.”
For more information contact VCS Community Engagement, Don Clark, at 219-531-3000