Whiting and Hammond will be the first two school districts in Lake County that will have to share a portion of any revenue raised through their proposed operating referenda — if approved by voters in November — with the charter schools within their districts.
The School City of Hammond and the School City of Whiting both are seeking operational referenda in November. The referendum in Hammond would extend an operating referendum approved by voters in 2017. This is the first operating referendum sought by Whiting, according to the Department of Local Government Finance.
Hammond also seeks to raise $84.2 million over the next 25 years in a building referendum for additions, renovations and general improvements.
The Lake County Board of Elections Tuesday approved placing the three referenda questions proposed by the school districts on the Nov. 7 ballot. The questions will receive final approval from the Department of Local Government Finance that will review the language.
If voters approve the operating referenda in November, the school districts will have to share a percentage of the money proportionate to the number of students attending charter schools within the respective school districts. Hammond currently has one charter school — the Hammond Academy of Science and Technology.
The new law, Senate Enrolled Act 381, applies to any operating referenda questions placed on a ballot after May 10 and goes into effect July 31. Several Lake County school corporations attempted to pass operating referenda during the May 2 primary, prior to the cut off. The School Town of Highland and the Tri-Creek School Corp., both failed to gain voter approval for their operating referenda, while the School Town of Munster was successful with the renewal of its referendum question that was originally passed in 2017.
In Whiting, the question will ask voters to authorize a maximum property tax rate of 17 cents per $100 in valuation for an eight-year period, a figure expected to general about $1 million a year, according to a referendum page on the school city’s webpage.
The district’s spending plan calls for allocating $418,275 for recruitment and retention of educators; $340,567 to maintain academic and technology programs; $307,564 for support counselors and mental health staff and programs; and $53,594 to bolster the safety and security at all schools, according to the site.
The proposed referendum will increase the school levy portion of property tax bills to $0.17 per $100 of assessed value and will result in a tax rate increase of 46.31% on the school levy portion of taxes for a residence and an increase of 36.96% on the school levy portion of taxes for a business property, according to the website and the DLGF.
According to the school website, which also features a tax calculator, homeowners can expect to pay an average of $10 a month more on their tax bill for schools.
In Hammond, the operating levy would continue at 44 cents per $100 in assessed valuation as first approved in 2017 for another eight years, according to the DLGF. The funds will be used for staffing, educational and equity programs, bus transportation, safety and security initiations and school health services.
The building referendum in Hammond, if approved by voters, will raise $84.2 million to fund additions, renovations and general improvements at Hammond Central High School, Morton High School and other academic buildings.
