Michigan City Area Schools seek continued redevelopment funding; commission requests Baker Tilly analysis

Representatives of Michigan City Area Schools appeared at the Redevelopment Commission's Aug. 18 meeting to request continued funding for staff development, cybersecurity and curricular pathways tied to workforce development.

Wendell McCollum, superintendent of Michigan City Area Schools, said the district values its decade-long partnership with the commission and that the funds support teachers, technology and students. McCollum said the district wants to continue the partnership while staff and finance consultants finalize the impact of recent state legislation on local tax increments.

Commission staff member Skyler York told the commission that the redevelopment staff has asked Baker Tilly to perform an analysis to confirm how Senate Bill 1 will affect TIF proceeds and the commission's ability to sustain multi-year commitments. "Senate Bill 1 is gonna affect all of the cities and it actually affects our TIF proceeds as well and what we collect," Skyler said. He explained the bill resets assessed values over a multi-year period and that staff needs a multi-year projection before committing to new multi-year funding.

Kevin (last name not specified), a district official who attended with McCollum, said the proposed grant would continue a theme used in prior grants: consistent staff development for certified teachers, expanded cybersecurity and information-technology curricular pathways to prepare students for the workforce.

No funding decision was made at the Aug. 18 meeting. Skyler said the Baker Tilly analysis should be complete in "the next week or two," after which the commission will be better positioned to consider the district's request. Commissioners emphasized the desire to avoid overpromising and then being unable to fulfill multi-year commitments if TIF revenues fall.