Nobody wants schools with large class sizes and dwindling programs. And no one wants a higher tax bill.
Something will have to give Nov. 3 in Lake Station, where taxpayers are being asked to support a tax increase of about $7.4 million over the next seven years to bolster the depleted Lake Station Community Schools' operating budget.
Data shows the average Lake Station home is assessed at $84,000. At 61 cents per $100 assessed valuation, according to school officials, that would mean an annual increase in taxes of about $106. A homeowner with property assessed at $100,000 would pay an additional $175 annually.
A business assessed at $175,000 would owe an additional $932 a year.
The school board approved placing the referendum on the fall ballot last spring after the General Assembly reduced the district's budget by $1.1 million over the next two years.
Layoffs, resignations and retirements cost the small district 10 teaching positions last spring that haven't been filled because of the budget crisis. Superintendent Tom Cripliver said it's led to larger class sizes at Edison Junior/Senior High School and left some students with two study halls every day because of reduced elective courses.
The district of about 1,500 students operates three elementary schools and a junior-senior high school. It's one of four school districts in Indiana holding school referendum votes Nov. 3. The other three are the North Judson-San Pierre School Corp., Zionsville Community Schools, and Fremont Community Schools.
"If the referendum is successful, we'd be looking to hire teachers back and support positions, too," said Cripliver. "Whether we would fill all of them at one time is doubtful. … We are targeting direct education programs and programs we lost and the staff to put them back in place."
The referendum could be facing an uphill battle. A political action group called Vote No Lake Station Referendum Committee is actively campaigning against the tax increase.
"For years, our schools have wasted money. We don't believe the taxpayers should be responsible for bailing out a school system that every year goes into debt but doesn't make the right cuts," said John Bastin, an opposition leader who said he's a graduate of Edison High School and has a son who's a senior and two younger children.
Bastin said the administration is top-heavy. "They have perks and don't want to give them up," he said.
Bastin said he started his group with money from his own pocket and has probably spent about $1,000.
"As a private citizen, I bought the signs," he said. "We're worried about our city, and we care greatly about the education of our kids."
Bastin said about 90 percent of his group have children in the district.
"The 'yes' committee has not told the truth about anything," he said. "They're using scare tactics like they're going to close schools."
Bastin said an increase in taxes will hurt local businesses and could cause them to pass on price increases to customers.
"The cost of living will go up around Lake Station, and the rest of us will pay higher taxes," he said.
While the referendum is seeking more than $7 million or slightly more than $1 million a year, it's doubtful the district can raise that much in tax collections, Cripliver said. Data provided by the county pegged Lake Station's tax collection rate at 68 percent. Cripliver said that amount would give the district about $700,000 each year.
Cripliver said the staff reductions have increased class size dramatically at the elementary level, where support staff was also cut. He cited sixth-grade classes at Hamilton and Polk elementaries that each have 30 students and a kindergarten class with 25 students at one school.
"Those are uncomfortable sizes for us," he said.
Elementary students haven't had art for the past five years, and pre-K programs were slashed.
At Edison, there's just one guidance counselor since the cuts, no family consumer science courses and no music electives.
"The fine arts are important, and we've lost that exposure and experience, and we're looking to restore it," Cripliver said.
Sixth-grade athletics have also been eliminated.
A political action committee Yes for Our Children's Education has coalesced around the district to support the referendum. It placed signs around the community.
"We're just going around and informing the voters," said David Schmelzer, its president. "The people we are getting good responses from are people who have children in school and are directly affected and interested in maintaining the quality of education for their children."
Schmelzer, whose wife is a Lake Station teacher, said some senior citizens are also supportive of the referendum.
"They understand the need for education," he said. "Many have been reading the papers and understand how the Republican leadership in Indianapolis has been chipping away at it in favor of charter school and vouchers."
Meanwhile, Schmelzer filed a complaint with the Lake County Board of Elections last week against Bastin's committee. Schmelzer contended it didn't register as a political action committee and its signs don't identify who is financing the campaign. He also said opponents have stolen his committee's signs.
Michelle Fajman, director of the Lake County Board of Elections, said a hearing will be held on the complaint at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. "If they spent over $100, they'd have to file," she said.