FREMONT — The effort to pass a referendum for Fremont Community Schools has spawned a political action committee, complete with a website to promote the effort.

Shortly after the Fremont Community Schools Board of Trustees approved putting the measure on the ballot in its July 6 meeting, the school corporation formed a separate political action committee to promote the measure, which would raise the tax rate to provide more operating funds for the school for the next seven years.

The website promoting the effort is yes4fremontschools.com and is promoted by Taxpayers for Fremont Schools, the PAC in the referendum effort.

“While directing millions of dollars to private schools in Indianapolis and elsewhere, state officials have tied our funding to the enrollment of students. These new state policies have resulted in considerable losses to our General Fund, the operating fund which pays for the majority of the expenses in our school system,” the website said.

If the referendum passes in the Nov. 3 election, it would increase the tax rate by 19.63 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for the district for seven years. Based on current data, that would generate approximately $2.2 million a year for the district.

“This referendum, if passed, would be about maintaining our outstanding programs, maintaining extremely talented and dedicated staff,” Superintendent Lori Vaughn said during the July school board meeting.

The district, due to declining student numbers that leads to less state financial support, has been having to dip into its rainy day fund to make ends meet and stem the tide of red ink.

In a financial report presented in May by Fremont Business Manager Brandon Penrod, he pointed out the school district would end 2014-2015 about $240,000 in the red. Revenue would be just shy of $6 million while spending was projected to end at about $6.235 million.

The yes4fremontschools website says if approved, the financial impact of the average homeowner would be about $5 a month. The website has a rate calculator so people can plug in their specific property and determine what the referendum would cost.
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