Lake Central board approves resolutions to place operating referendum on November 2025 ballot

Doctor Barako, board member, told the Lake Central School Corporation board at a special June 30 meeting that the district would seek voter approval to place an operating referendum on the November 2025 ballot.

"Today we are meeting to ask the board to approve placing an operating referendum on a November 2025 ballot," Barako said.

Mr. James, staff member, told the board the move responds to changes in state law under Senate Enrolled Act 1 and is intended to maintain existing services rather than expand them. "This referendum ... is about maintaining stability, not expanding services," James said. He said the districts current operating referendum, approved in 2018 at a rate of 17¢ per $100 of assessed value, raises a little more than $11,000,000 a year and supports teacher and staff retention, class sizes, academic programs, student services, nurses and three school resource officers.

James summarized the new proposal: "We are proposing a new maximum rate of 26.14¢ per $100 of assessed value. This would raise up to $17,700,000 annually." He said the district will use the revenue for recruiting and retaining teachers and staff, supporting student health and safety initiatives, maintaining class size and academic programs, and meeting student learning needs. The resolution packet included a required revenue spending plan with those purposes and estimated amounts.

James and other speakers told the board that although the rate would increase, new state deductions and credits scheduled to phase in between 2026 and 2031 mean many homeowners will not see higher bills; the district cited a median home value of $333,000 in Saint John Township and said the typical homeowners bill could decrease by more than $100 next year even with a higher rate. James said the statutory deduction structure will reduce taxable value significantly over the six-year transition: "the deduction ... by 2031 it will be 2 thirds of their assessed value."

The board approved two related resolutions by voice vote. The first resolution authorized the administration to calculate the tax levy impacts and to set a maximum levy rate for the ballot language; Miss Tallent moved approval and Dr. Malco seconded. The second resolution, a referendum tax levy resolution that includes the revenue spending plan and the proposed ballot verbiage, was moved by Miss Tallent and seconded by Dr. Malco; both motions passed on voice votes.

James outlined the next procedural steps if the board certified the resolutions: submission to the county auditor for verification of the calculations, review by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, and then coordination with the county election board to place the question on the November ballot.

The presenters emphasized the referendum is a continuation of local support for schools under a changed state funding formula, and they noted that the districts estimates assume current law remains in effect through the transition period. The board packet and remarks also noted the districts prior operating referendum from 2018 and described the current proposal as crafted to "protect all that we've worked for and built, not adding anything new."

The board also approved routine claims and several professional leave requests during the same meeting.