EDUCATION

Four Indy area school districts seek tax hikes in May 5 election

Kris Turner
kris.turner@indystar.com

Next week's primary election will allow voters in four Indianapolis-area school districts to decide whether they want to increase property taxes to update school facilities, boost operating budgets or provide for new construction.

Beech Grove, Perry Township, Wayne Township and Brownsburg schools are seeking voter approval for tax hikes. Here's a breakdown of what the schools are seeking in the May 5 election:

Beech Grove City Schools

Voters will be asked to continue a property tax hike of 35 cents per every $100 of assessed property tax value, which amounts to about $1.4 million a year, for seven years. The money is used to help pay for the district's transportation costs. This measure does not increase the current tax rate.

Superintendent Paul Kaiser said the district has lost $4.6 million from its budget because of declining home values and property tax caps.

The district also is asking for $8.8 million in bond financing to update the heating and cooling systems at four schools, as well as the band and choir facilities at the high school. The bond would impose a tax increase of 15 cents per every $100 of assessed property value.

"The buildings themselves, we maintain them very well, but the propeller is you have air conditioning systems that are 30 to 35 years old," Kaiser said. "You can't fix air conditioners that are 30 years old because they don't have the parts any more."

Perry Township Schools

The Perry Township school district is asking voters for an operating referendum to help offset transportation costs. The growing school district is asking voters for a $3 million tax hike, or 42 center for every $100 of property valuation, for seven years.

"Those additional dollars would be used to pay for additional bus drivers and custodians in the district," Superintendent Tom Little said.

The district also is asking for a $50 million referendum to construct 89 new classrooms for elementary students. Currently, the district is using 26 trailers for student instruction. It anticipates that number could increase to 40 by next year.

"Right now, we're having band and orchestra classes in trailers at Southport Middle School," Little said.

Brownsburg Community School Corporation

Brownsburg is asking voters for two tax hikes that are directly related to the construction. The district is asking voters for an increase of 4 cents per every $100 of assessed property value for seven years and another increase of 41 cents per $100. The 4 cent increase, which is about $1 million a year, will help support the operations at a new $17 million elementary school. The remaining $78 million will allow for construction at the high school.

"We grew 220 students last year," Superintendent Jim Snapp said. "We have 10 trailers on site right now to accommodate growth in Brownsburg."

Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township

Wayne Township schools are asking the community for a tax increase of 35 cents per $100 of home valuation to fund the day-to-day operations of educating students for seven years. The district has lost up to $17 million on an annual basis because of property tax caps, Superintendent Jeff Butts said.

The referendum would generate $9.5 million a year.

"What we've asked our taxpayers to decide is, 'Do you want to continue on with the supports you have today?'" Butts said.

Call Star reporter Kris Turner at (317) 444-6047. Follow him on Twitter: @krisnturner.