Voters OK Hamilton Southeastern school-funding tax hike

Voters in the Hamilton Southeastern school district on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bump to their property taxes to
provide the growing system an extra $5.5 million in funding each year for the next seven years.

Nearly 82 percent of
the 10,147 voters in the referendum supported the tax hike.

The vote in the special election allows the school
corporation to collect an extra 10 cents on each $100 of a home’s assessed valuation.

Enrollment in the district
grew by 850 students this year, according to officials. They say approval the tax hike will let them hire more teachers.

The
district, which cut $3 million from its budget earlier this year, said the deficits have been brought on by the state’s
funding formula, which shortchanges faster-growing school systems.