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Lake Central board reviews 2026 tax-rate impact and approves personnel, donations
Summary
At its May 4 meeting the Lake Central School Corporation board approved personnel and donation items and heard a 2026 tax-rate briefing from the director of business services, who reported the district rate at 84.22 cents and explained why referendum effects and credits changed individual bills.
The Lake Central School Corporation board on May 4 approved routine personnel items and donations and heard a detailed presentation from Director of Business Services Mr. James on 2026 property-tax impacts for district taxpayers.
Mr. James asked the board to approve donations included in the board packet; the motion was moved and seconded and approved by vocal assent. He then presented an analysis of the district's 2026 tax rates and how those rates compare with other county school districts.
"We continue to be toward the bottom. We are third from the bottom at 84.22 cents this year," Mr. James said, adding that the district's rate rose "about three and a half cents. 3.65 actually from last year." He explained that although the referendum approved in an earlier campaign cited a larger-percentage increase, assessed-value changes and debt reductions meant the district needed a lower-percentage rate (the packet references a figure of 25.26 cents) than the earlier referendum number (stated in the packet as "2614") to raise the targeted revenue.
Mr. James also walked trustees through packet examples showing how the total tax bill depends on other levies (town/city, county, library and township) and on homeowners' gross and net assessed values. He noted that the first year of certain credits (a $300 credit and a supplemental credit on liability noted in the packet) has resulted in many taxpayers seeing a smaller tax bill this year than in 2025, despite the referendum being fully in place.
On facilities, Director of Facilities Mr. Ledger reported LED lighting replacements at Lake Central High School are complete and that the district received a $5,200 incentive check from NIPSCO for the project; he characterized the item as an informational update rather than an action item.
Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Castana presented an amended personnel recommendation packet and the board approved the personnel changes; Mrs. Shunan subsequently moved approval of professional-leave requests and field-trip requests in the packet, each of which passed by vocal assent.
What's next: the board will continue routine business at its remaining May meeting; items requiring additional follow-up (budget details or tax-bill examples for specific townships) can be supplied by business services on request.
