Explaining potential school safety plans, property tax increases
By HOLLY GASKILL
In a special election on Nov. 7, residents of Harrison Township will consider a school safety referendum for the Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District.
If approved, the township agrees to an increase of $0.075 on every $100 in assessed property value for homesteads, a 9.63 percent increase, and $0.065 on every $100 in assessed property value for businesses, a 7.94 percent increase.
While new to BHMSD, nearly half of Indiana districts have put a referendum on the ballot, including neighboring Southern Wells Community Schools. Referendums can be supported under multiple potential forms, including supporting general school operations, building projects and school safety developments,
What is a school safety referendum?
A general school referendum places a levy on property taxes to increase funding for a particular area of need within the district. Sen. Travis Holman and several others introduced the concept of a referendum explicitly to improve school safety in 2019.
Using referendum funding, a district can employ school resource officers and mental health resources, conduct a needs or threats assessment, and cover capital expenses to improve building safety, among other items.
Since then, two districts have pursued the option, with only one, the Carmel Clay School Corporation in Hamilton County, being successful. However, BHMSD isn’t alone in their pursuit this fall — the Fort Wayne Community School Corporation in Allen County is also seeking a school safety referendum, which would increase property taxes by 12.74 percent for homesteads and 11.96 percent for business properties.
How will a referendum support school safety?
BHMSD has advertised that the referendum would primarily financially support adding three new positions — two new school resource officers and a full-time mental health counselor. Currently, the district employs one SRO across its three campuses and has added a part-time mental health counselor through grant funding.
A portion of the referendum will also support “safety equipment,” which could include a variety of school resources. The district has outlined plans to increase video equipment and add visitor management systems, vape sensors, and staff training opportunities.
Altogether, these additions will increase safety across the district and with individual student needs, said Superintendent Brad Yates.
Yates told the News-Banner that these positions and resources were determined to be a need within the district, but more funding was required to do so. The school board — Bruce Holland, Mike Murray, Julie Thompson, Trent White and Angie Sheets — unanimously spoke in favor of pursuing a study of the tax base and putting the referendum on the ballot.
Why add more officers?
Yates explained that the schools aren’t unsafe with one SRO, but that there are limitations. For example, there may be a delayed response if the officer is in another building at a time of need.
However, Yates said a large benefit of the additional SROs would be the “resource” aspect of their position more than the “officer” element.
“We’re regularly in the ‘resource’ side of things, whether that’s part of an investigation or providing support in a non-law enforcement capacity, where we can’t do that with three buildings and one human,” Yates explained.
This support, Yates continued, includes providing supervision at events during and outside of school hours, as well as building relationships and talking with students.
Yates added, “There are countless times where relationships with an officer in our buildings with our young students to our older students have (a) tremendous impact on their choices and their outcomes and can prevent to future negative activity and can also spur people into positive avenues in life.”
The schools’ current SRO, Phil Kurut, is contracted through the Bluffton Police Department. If the referendum is approved, Yates believes the district would likely contract the additional officers through the BPD.
Why add a mental health counselor?
While the district has two guidance counselors at each school, Yates explained that the guidance counselors often wear many hats, from class scheduling to intervening with students. Simply put, they’re exceeding the capacity of their resources.
Last year Bluffton-Harrison schools received a Lily grant that has allowed them to contract a licensed mental health counselor through Park Center for 12 hours weekly. Beginning this fall, the counselor has been meeting with high-need students on a regular basis with their guardians’ permission.
“We’re talking about a very small percentage of our student population, but a very acute, very high need,” Yates explained. “A lot of those times are either in safety-sensitive situations, or some trauma situations (and) those students just need some extra support to learn effectively.”
However, Yates said it’s been clear this fall that there is a need for this service to be available in a full-time capacity.
If the referendum is approved, the program could be expanded through Park Center, another resource, or through an independently hired mental health professional. If the referendum is not approved, there is not funding secured to continue the current part-time mental health counselor.
What is the financial impact?
In a Policy Analytics study of the township tax base, this tax increase should draw approximately $445,000 annually. However, should the tax base grow or financial needs change, the district would have the ability to lower the rate as necessary.
“At any point in time, the school district can lower the request below that maximum rate ($0.075 per $100 assessed),” Yates explained. “(The study) established that line as the maximum community commitment towards safety and security. So the promise from the school site is it’ll never be more than 0.075 percent, and, in the same breath, my promise would be that we would lower that rate to be what our need is, but we won’t really know that until we get into one cycle.”
For a home assessed at $150,000, the referendum would add an annual $45.90 in property taxes, and $112.50 annually for a non-homestead property assessed at the same value.
In an annual district spending plan published by the Indiana Department of Local Finance, BHMSD outlined $253,957 for additional school resource officers, $62,375 for physical safety and security improvements, $106,929 for mental health support, and $22,277 for professional development with faculty and staff.
Yates added that he believed these funds would be used responsibly by the district and ultimately benefit families and the community.
“Personally, as a taxpayer, father and superintendent, I believe that the funds that are being presented are prudent and appropriate to assist in providing a safe environment for our students,” Yates said. “Our goal is to (help students) excel, to learn, to graduate, and then to help in some capacity back into our communities. As a product of Bluffton-Harrison myself, and then coming back, staying here, and choosing to live here, work here, and reinvesting in the community — that’s my goal for kids as they come through to see the value of what we have here in Bluffton and Wells County.”
What will appear on the ballot?
The special election ballot will ask voters a specific question regarding the referendum and how it will affect taxes. Voting “Yes” will give support for the referendum’s addition, and voting “No” will reject the referendum.
The ballot question will read as follows: “Shall the Bluffton Harrison M.S.D. increase property taxes paid to the school corporation by homeowners and businesses for eight (8) years immediately following the holding of the referendum for the purpose of funding the social, emotional, safety, and security needs for all students and staff including: (a) additional school resource officers, (b) physical safety and security improvements, (c) mental health support for students that promote social and emotional well-being, and (d) professional development/training which focuses on proactive safety strategies for faculty and staff? If this public question is approved by the voters, the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a residence would increase by 9.63 percent and the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a business property would increase by 7.94 percent.”
The ballot question requires a simple majority. Voting will be available at the Wells County 4-H Park from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 7, or for early and absentee voting from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 3.
Absentee and early voting is also available at the Wells County Clerk’s Office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Nov. 3, and 8 a.m. to noon on Nov. 4 and Nov. 6.
holly@news-banner.com
