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Voters gave their approval for Pike Township schools to raise property taxes in order to fund district operations and programs that had relied on federal COVID-19 relief funding.
With the measure passing Tuesday night, the district will become the first to share some of its property tax revenue with eligible charter schools as mandated by a 2023 state law.
Unofficial results as of 10 p.m. in Marion County showed about 59% of voters approving the Pike tax referendum. The vote tally was 5,417 in favor and 3,799 against, with 100% of county vote centers reporting.
Three other districts in Indiana had tax referendums on the ballot during Tuesday’s primary election.
According to unofficial results, around 83% of voters rejected a referendum from Blue River Valley Schools in Henry County. The vote tally was 884-179 as of 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.
The other school districts with tax referendums were Brown County Schools and Fremont Community Schools. Early results for those communities were not yet posted on the Indiana Election Division website late Tuesday.
Districts can seek ballot measures to raise tax revenue to fund operations and construction, as well as school safety. Each district with a referendum this year hoped to use at least some of the dollars to attract and retain staff, as well as fund programs, and more.
The referendums need a simple majority to pass.
Metropolitan School District of Pike Township
Property tax rate: $0.24 per $100 of assessed property value for eight years
Estimated annual revenue: $14.5 million
If approved, the district could have to share some funds with eligible charter schools.
Unofficial results:
Yes: 58.8%
No: 41.2%
Blue River Valley Schools
Property tax rate: $0.19 per $100 of assessed value for eight years
Estimated annual revenue: $359,594
Unofficial results:
Yes: 16.8%
No: 83.2%
Brown County Schools
Property tax rate: $0.10 per $100 of assessed property value for eight years
Estimated annual revenue: $1,879,051
Fremont Community Schools
Property tax rate: $0.15 per $100 of assessed property value for eight years
Estimated annual revenue: $2,384,719
Chalkbeat Indiana is a not-for-profit news site covering educational change in public schools.
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Clarifying to add that exactly none of the “eligible charter schools” (as defined in a newly passed state statute) are located in Pike Twp. or have any working relationships with Msd Pike Twp school district.
Maryann… You are correct for now! But three were actively scouting and negotiating locations based on the upcoming referendum to open additional locations or establish their first location here. So they are coming unfortunately
Good news!
Would someone tell me how many employees are in the Pike K12 school system including support staff, bus drivers and maintenance staff?
Since the over reached COVID funds were considered temporary, why did MSD Pike decide they needed to make the need for the funding permanent? Refilling the cookie jar with new taxes seems a bit over zealous and poor planning. It appears no funding is for the actual education of the students.