Dr. Roberts-BCSC FB page
COLUMBUS, Ind. – Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts gave a presentation to the board on Monday evening regarding the $9.3 million per year referendum he wants the board to approve at the January 13 meeting. The property tax referendum would go on the May 5 election ballot. About two-thirds of the money garnered from the proposed tax increase each year would go to raises for teachers.
Roberts said that state funding to BCSC has been reduced by $46 million since 2009. Property tax cap losses the corporation has experienced hampers the ability to purchase buses each year in line with the goal of having a fleet no more than 12 years old. He noted the rise in health insurance and the fact BCSC is hiring 76 new teachers per year, a sign of a retention challenge, as reasons more funds are needed.
The referendum calls for a property tax rate increase of $0.1950 per $100 of assessed value. This would amount to an increased property-tax increase of $9.74 per month for the average homeowner.
