Whitko OKs Referendum For 2011 Tax Levy
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
Superintendent Steve Clason explained that while the corporation has cut more than $1 million in its budget through staff reductions and other measures, there is a forecast from that state that Whitko may have to cut another $500,000 in 2011.
"That would be another 10 or so teachers for us to cut," said Clason. "And we don't have another 10 teachers to cut. People say cut administration but administration is already short-staffed."
Clason said without the relief of a tax levy, which the board voted to be 20 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, "we would have a debt for the taxpayers."
The superintendent also said other drastic measures may have to be taken if the referendum doesn't pass in November.
Clason mentioned, as worse-case scenarios, closing one of the elementary schools, issuing pay cuts to teachers and increasing the amount for pay-to-play.
"I don't think we have a choice," said board president Roger Boggs.
The board passed the referendum unanimously, and after a series of steps will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Clason said it was important to get the word out and for the corporation to state its case to get voters to vote yes on the referendum question.
Since Whitko has students in both Kosciusko and Whitley counties, the question will appear on ballots for both counties.
The overall vote total will determine whether the referendum passes, not by county.
School board member Pete Mitchell, in his final school board meeting since his term ends July 1, took issue with the state cutting school budgets.
"I think the state is trying to do away with public education," said Mitchell. "And that scares the heck out of me."
Before the board passed the referendum question, they heard a 45-minute presentation from Dana Wannemacher of Barton, Coe and Vilamaa. The company was hired to do a facility study of both South Whitley Elementary and Pierceton Elementary.
After going over both facilities, Wannemacher said that Pierceton Elementary, originally built in 1923, was at the end of its life as compared to other schools and that it would be more expensive to renovate it than build a new school.
As for SWES, Wannemacher said it would be cheaper to renovate the school to compare to new schools than build a new school.
Among other scenarios, Wannemacher worked up one building that would house all of Whitko's elementary students. That new building project cost would be $24 million.
A new Pierceton building would cost around $16 million, while renovations to SWES would be around $6 million.[[In-content Ad]]
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Superintendent Steve Clason explained that while the corporation has cut more than $1 million in its budget through staff reductions and other measures, there is a forecast from that state that Whitko may have to cut another $500,000 in 2011.
"That would be another 10 or so teachers for us to cut," said Clason. "And we don't have another 10 teachers to cut. People say cut administration but administration is already short-staffed."
Clason said without the relief of a tax levy, which the board voted to be 20 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, "we would have a debt for the taxpayers."
The superintendent also said other drastic measures may have to be taken if the referendum doesn't pass in November.
Clason mentioned, as worse-case scenarios, closing one of the elementary schools, issuing pay cuts to teachers and increasing the amount for pay-to-play.
"I don't think we have a choice," said board president Roger Boggs.
The board passed the referendum unanimously, and after a series of steps will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Clason said it was important to get the word out and for the corporation to state its case to get voters to vote yes on the referendum question.
Since Whitko has students in both Kosciusko and Whitley counties, the question will appear on ballots for both counties.
The overall vote total will determine whether the referendum passes, not by county.
School board member Pete Mitchell, in his final school board meeting since his term ends July 1, took issue with the state cutting school budgets.
"I think the state is trying to do away with public education," said Mitchell. "And that scares the heck out of me."
Before the board passed the referendum question, they heard a 45-minute presentation from Dana Wannemacher of Barton, Coe and Vilamaa. The company was hired to do a facility study of both South Whitley Elementary and Pierceton Elementary.
After going over both facilities, Wannemacher said that Pierceton Elementary, originally built in 1923, was at the end of its life as compared to other schools and that it would be more expensive to renovate it than build a new school.
As for SWES, Wannemacher said it would be cheaper to renovate the school to compare to new schools than build a new school.
Among other scenarios, Wannemacher worked up one building that would house all of Whitko's elementary students. That new building project cost would be $24 million.
A new Pierceton building would cost around $16 million, while renovations to SWES would be around $6 million.[[In-content Ad]]
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