The Crown Point School Corp. will ask taxpayers on May 6 to renew an operating referendum first approved by voters in 2011.
If approved by voters, the rate of the additional property tax levy will be at just over 18 cents per $100 of assessed value for eight years, down from the current rate of 21 cents.
The Crown Point Board of School Trustees voted on Monday to pursue the renewal which will appear as a ballot question at the May 6 primary election.
The current referendum provides the school district with around $8 million in additional revenue each year.
If the proposed referendum is renewed by voters, school officials estimate the annual revenue generated to be around $8.4 million.
Crown Point School Supt. Todd Terrill praised the continued support of the school community with 70 percent of voters approving the measure in 2018.
Nearly 60% of the district’s voters approved the original referendum in 2011.
“We believe at the end of the day our community will continue to see the value of their school corporation and will support it,” Terrill said.
Money would be earmarked for four key areas: 49% for funding of academic and educationally related programs including 70 certified teachers; 19% for essential safety initiatives such as expansion of additional trained officers and advanced emergency response system; 27% for managing class sizes and maintaining manageable class sizes despite growing enrollment; and 6% for retaining teachers and staff and maintaining competitive salary and benefits for certified staff members.
Renewal of the referendum is necessary for the district to continue to have the ability to hire and retain teachers and staff while maintaining a competitive salary, Terrill said.
Teachers in the Crown Point School Corp. continue to be well compensated and above the state minimum starting salary and state average salary, according to data.
According to the 2023 Indiana Teacher Compensation Report, the minimum starting salary for a new teacher in the state is $45,655 versus $59,000 for Crown Point teachers.
The average Crown Point teacher’s salary is $71,000 versus the state average of $57,700.
Terrill said proof of the Crown Point Schools competitive salaries was evident at the beginning of last school year when there were 12 openings for elementary teachers.
“And there were almost 90 applicants for those positions,” Terrill said.
Under the current maximum rate, from the 2018 referendum, a median house with an assessed valuation of $308,500 would pay an annual amount of $355.58 and a monthly rate of $29.63.
Under the proposed rate, and if the new referendum is passed, a median house with an assessed valuation of $308,500, would pay a maximum annual rate of $309.53 and monthly rate of $25.79, school officials said.
Crown Point schools aren’t the only school in the area seeking a renewal of its operating referendum at the May 6 primary.
The Board of School Trustees of Hobart on Dec. 19 voted to seek a renewal of a referendum first approved by voters in 2017.
The Hobart referendum generates around $2.7 million annually for Hobart schools.
If the referendum is renewed, the tax rate will continue to be at just over 24 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for eight years.
Funds generated would be used to fund school resource officers and bus transportation, according to the Hobart school website.
Hobart school officials are planning several 2025 referendum presentations with Supt. Peggy Buffington throughout the month of March, according to the school’s website.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.