Carolyn Scott demonstrates the damage caused by overnight rain and a leaky roof in a computer classroom at John Young Middle School last week. Staff photo by Santiago Flores
At a glance
Mishawaka schools' $28 million referendum:
The money is for?
Upgrades include augmented security and technology, classroom improvements, such as carpeting and paint, roofing repairs, a new storage building and soccer enclosures at Baker Field and new lighting for Mishawaka High's football field.
Resurfacing the football field is not on the list.
Taxes up how much?
Taxes on a $100,000 home would increase by $105 annually, according to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance's online calculator.
(The DLGF calculator at https://gateway.ifionline.org/CalculatorsDLGF/RefCalculator.aspx erroneously assumes there is a 1 percent tax cap for homeowners in Mishawaka schools' boundaries. In St. Joseph County, the cap is currently 1.5 percent. A DLGF spokeswoman says the agency hopes to have the calculator fixed by Monday).
Supporters say?
"This is for the kids," said Michael Wandling with Friends of Mishawaka Schools, a pro-referendum political action committee. "We need to do what we need to do for the kids."
Opponents say?
"I think of it as a sandwich. A very, very small portion of it is good," said Mike Wojtysiak, of noto28million.org, "but the majority is going to make our business community and property values very depressed and sick for a long time."
MISHAWAKA -- As the run-up to School City of Mishawaka's $28 million referendum enters the home stretch, those on both sides of the issue say their primary goal is the same.
"People just need to get out and vote," said Mike Wojtysiak, founder of the group noto28million.org, which opposes the referendum. "That's my biggest concern for the whole process."
Likewise, Michael Wandling, with the political action committee Friends of Mishawaka Schools, which supports Tuesday's referendum, said his biggest hope is that voters will take the time to go to the polls.
Mishawaka schools' administration is asking for the money so facilities and technology upgrades can be done across the school corporation.
Roofs leak, terra cotta is crumbling and schools need improved security and up-to-date technology, they've said.
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