Referendum: Anderson Community Schools looks for help with budget

ANDERSON — Anderson Community Schools are asking voters in a referendum on this election’s ballot for a 55-cent increase to the tax rate for every $100 of assessed value.

ACS School Board president Scott Green said the referendum is a consequence of the board trying to respond to the major financial shortfall the school system is facing. That shortfall is coming from cuts made to the school’s funding at the state level and a change in the school funding formula itself.

“Between those two significant reductions in millions of dollars to the school system, the board went to the state explaining our need,” Green said. “The state told us it didn’t have the resources, and before it would consider any changes, the community that supports the school needed to be sought out to provide support for making up that shortfall. So we’ve proceeded with the referendum.”

Green said he understands that no one wants to see more taxes in the community.

“Times are tough economically,” he said. “But we have a situation where the school system is shy millions of dollars because of a change in state funding. None of us are interested in seeing people in Anderson taxed more, but the state has told us we need to ask the community. So rather than voting for the community, the community is voting to see whether or not they are willing or able to provide more resources.”

ACS Superintendent Felix Chow declined to comment about why the school needed the funds a passed referendum would bring in or what the increase would fund.

In previous interviews, Chow had said the district had an even greater need for the funds the referendum would bring — an estimated $3.5 million each year — as the school had lost 1,300 students since last fall. Schools are funded based on the number of students they have.

The tax caps, budget cuts and the loss of students means the school district could face a $20 million deficit by 2013, Chow said.

State Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, said the purpose of the general fund referendum is to allow the additional funding if the community feels it wants to have funds above and beyond what the state formula provides.

“The schools are doing this at a time when the funding is down across the state,” Kenley said. “I’m not sure if that was the intended purpose, but it is up to the public to decide if they want extra the extra funds or not.”

He admitted that the schools were being “squeezed a little bit” financially but said they are in much better shape than other parts of the state government which have been cut by as much as 25 percent. The schools have faced only a 4-percent cut.

“I think there is adequate funding prior to the referendum being on board,” Kenley said. “The point of the referendum is for the local community to decide if they want to spend any more.”

Green said the new school board has made a commitment to be financially responsible and is working hard to live within its means.

“We are searching every angle for funding and searching for every route to manage our expenses most effectively,” he said. “We are trying to be responsible to our children to provide the best education possible. And we need to pay our bills. We are very aware that we are using taxpayer dollars to fund education and are mindful to use those dollars wisely.”

Anderson mother Danielle Walker said she was skeptical about the referendum. She would support the referendum if she knew the money would go directly to improve the school’s student’s education with things like smaller class sizes.

“I have a 10-year-old in Anderson Schools, and I don’t feel like his education is getting better,” Walker said. “His education is my priority. I’m still undecided on it. I think there are too many kids in each class right now, and the students are not getting enough one on one time.”