Whitley County Council Revotes On Whitko Tax Referendum
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
COLUMBIA CITY - The Whitley County Council met this week and the issue of putting Whitko School Corp.'s tax referendum on the ballot was before it.
According to Council President Kim Wheeler, the council voted against putting the referendum on the ballot in November.
Because students from Kosciusko and Whitley counties go to Whitko, approval to put the tax referendum on the ballot is needed in both counties.
Wheeler said after the council meeting adjourned, they were told by Whitko's attorney, John Whiteleather, that the council was obligated to vote to put the referendum on the ballot.
Whiteleather wasn't present during the meeting but appeared before the council after it adjourned.
A spokesman from the Indiana Secretary of State's office confirmed today that the council was bound by state statute to put the referendum on the ballot.
Wheeler said himself and two other council members, Glenn Larue and Thomas Western, were still present and they called the two other council members who had left, John Barrett and Jim Bayman.
Barrett returned and, with a quorum, the council voted 3-1 in favor of the referendum with Larue abstaining.
Bayman, who represents South Whitley, wasn't present for the second vote.
Council members Jim Banks and William Overdeer were absent during Tuesday's meeting.
According to Hoosier State Press Association general counsel Stephen Key this morning, the second meeting could violate the open door policy.
Under that policy there is a provision where a citizen could file a complaint, and that it could cause the second vote to become null and void.
However, if nobody files a complaint, even with a violation of the open door policy, the second vote would stand.
If a complaint is filed and the second vote rescinded, it can be voted on again at the council's next meeting.
During its June 21 meeting, the Whitko School Board approved a tax levy referendum that would appear on the Nov. 2 ballot, which would be 20 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
Whitko Superintendent Steve Clason painted a bleak picture during the June 21 meeting saying that while Whitko has already cut $1 million from its budget, projections were that the school corporation may have to cut another $500,000 in 2011.
Calls to Whiteleather weren't returned as of press time this morning.
