Jeeps rally referendum support
“We can focus on the important thing at the corporation, learning,” Northeast Dubois School Superintendent Bill Hochgesang said Wednesday morning. “We can get back to some normalcy and focus on the kids instead of the finances.”
The Jeeps received an overwhelming amount of support — 70 percent voted yes — for the referendum asking property owners in Hall, Columbia, Harbison and Marion townships to increase property taxes 18 cents per $100 of assessed value for the next seven years. The increase will provide the corporation with an additional $500,000 annually to support the general fund.
“To see that level of support was truly amazing,” Hochgesang said.
Those funds will help pay to keep the corporation’s extracurricular programs going in addition to covering state-mandated contributions to the teacher pension fund. Teachers and staff will also see a pay raise. The corporation froze pay in the 2012-2013 school year and according to Hochgesang, pay has decreased as the staff continued to pay increased insurance expenses. “We don’t pick up those increases, the employees do,” he said.
The referendum is enough to maintain operations with the recommended cuts recommended from a study completed in late 2015. The funding will come in beginning in 2018. Until then, the corporation will continue to operate with a tight budget.
“Even with the referendum we will still have to do as much as possible to watch spending,” Hochgesang added. “What this does, is allows us to not lose any programs and prevents us from having to enlarge classes.”
Coverage:
Referendum recommended to keep Celestine open
Northeast Dubois answers questions in final public meeting before referendum
