SOUTHERN INDIANA — After multiple public meetings asking voters to pass the referendum for Clarksville Community School Corp., the move failed, getting only 45 percent of the votes Tuesday.
The referendum, if passed, would have increased taxes 24 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to those owning property in the school district’s boundaries.
Interim Superintendent Kim Knott had said previously that the increase was needed, since the district had been overspending out of the general fund — which pays for student programs and salaries — for the last four out of five years.
She said the district already needed to cut $491,000 in 2010 expenses before the state announced more cuts earlier this year, which means the district needs to cut $460,000 on top of that.
Not doing anything would mean depleting the cash balance, leaving the district with a deficit of $722,544, Knott said. That would mean the state would take over and likely consolidate the district, she said.
Knott said previously that even if the levy were approved, it wouldn’t save the district from cuts, since those funds wouldn’t be available until the end of 2011. She said if approved the certified and classified staff would have to be reduced by eight to 12 people. However, since it failed that number could be up to 20 certified staff, George Rogers Clark may have had to be closed and electives and counseling services at the elementary level may be eliminated.
School board President Bill Wilson said previously that if the referendum failed, GRC would be “closing for sure.”
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