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Tri‑Creek trustees vote to place eight‑year operating referendum on November ballot to backfill lost property‑tax revenue
Summary
Trustees approved a resolution to put an eight‑year operating referendum before voters in November seeking up to $3 million annually (maximum levy 17.38¢) to replace lost property‑tax revenue tied to recent state changes; board also approved multiple consent items including student fees, leases and an athletic‑trainer contract.
Tri‑Creek School Corporation trustees voted to approve a resolution authorizing a November operating referendum intended to replace lost property‑tax revenue for operations and preserve transportation, student programs and school safety.
During the financial portion of the superintendent’s report, a district presenter summarized multi‑year cash‑flow projections showing operations‑fund shortfalls driven primarily by a recent state change referenced in the meeting as "Senate enroll at one," which has reduced property‑tax funding to school districts. The presenter said salaries and benefits make up about 82% of the district’s expenditures and that, under current trends, the district’s rainy‑day balance could fall below its target (~16% of expenditures) beginning in 2028.
The proposed ballot language the board certified for submission reads in part: "Shall Tri Creek School Corporation increase property taxes paid to the school corporation for no more than eight years for the purpose of replacing lost property tax revenue funding bus transportation, student programs and school safety by imposing a property tax rate that does not exceed 17.38 cents and results in a maximum annual amount that does not exceed $3 million." The presentation also noted the question’s estimate that a median $300,000 residence would see an annual increase of about $245 under today’s assessed‑value assumptions; staff cautioned that the estimate is based on current values and that the district will budget annually and could reduce levy amounts if circumstances change.
Explaining the consequences of failing to secure the funds, the presenter warned of potential eliminations in bus service and extracurricular programs. "When we talk about impacting bus transportation, we're talking about eliminating all bus service," the presenter said, adding that extracurriculars carry about a $500,000 price tag and that reductions would substantially reduce after‑school opportunities.
Legal counsel Peterson reviewed the statutory timeline and logistics: referendum language must be certified to the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) and cleared by the county election board to appear on the general‑election ballot; the board was told the district must complete certification steps by the statutory deadline for the November election.
Alongside the referendum resolution, trustees approved a series of consent and action items by voice vote: Resolution 2026‑03 (alternative services agreements with the Indiana Department of Education), an agreement with K Development and Management LLC tied to the construction‑trades house‑build program, student fees for the 2026‑27 school year, the annual Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. field lease, natatorium furniture procurement, and a three‑year contract to secure athletic‑trainer services with ATI Physical Therapy (to be executed by Dana Bogusy after legal review). The motions passed by voice vote; recorded roll‑call tallies were not provided in the meeting transcript.
Board members and staff also noted ancillary items the district is monitoring, including nearby data‑center proposals in Lake County and negotiations over a potential cell‑tower lease; staff said the district is "neutral but watching" those developments and may pursue contractual payments if projects proceed.
The board scheduled its next regular meeting for July 16.
