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Monday, June 30, 2008

Ind. Law - "Law requiring schools and governments to receive referendum approval for large, publicly financed projects takes effect July 1"

Niki Kelly reports in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette today under the headline "New law bolsters voter say on taxes." Her story begins:

A new era of citizen control over property taxes starts Tuesday when a law requiring schools and governments to receive referendum approval for large, publicly financed projects takes effect.

That means voters will more directly decide the fate of their own property tax bill – giving a thumbs up or down to many schools, fire stations, libraries and more.

“There are some things I think are pretty central, and I think a referendum process – trusting the people and letting them make decisions before they are taxed for big borrowing – is pretty important,” Gov. Mitch Daniels said earlier this year in a meeting with reporters.

He also has said repeatedly that he doesn’t think a referendum process will mean the end of infrastructure improvement in Indiana.

Schools will likely be the most affected: On average 54 cents of every property tax dollar collected in Indiana goes to schools, and nearly 11 cents of that pays for school construction debt.

Bruce C. Smith has a story in the Indianapolis Star headed "Is Plainfield's the last of the big-ticket schools? Law requiring referendums could quash similar projects." His story begins:
At the public opening of the new Plainfield High School on Sunday, high praise flew faster than adjectives and adverbs in a freshman English composition.

Beautiful. Outstanding. Exciting. Unbelievable. Wow.
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"Makes me want to go back to high school," said Avon dentist Lou Menegotto, the father of an incoming senior at the new $103 million school.

Thousands attended a dedication ceremony Sunday and took student-led tours of the spacious 476,000-square-foot home of the Plainfield Quakers. The building at 1 Red Pride Drive is the centerpiece of a 110-acre campus with a 4,000-seat football stadium and a bell in the Tower of Honor.

But in an age of taxpayer revolt and a state law effective Tuesday requiring referendums on expensive government buildings, the future of similar big-ticket schools in Indiana isn't as clear.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 30, 2008 09:38 AM
Posted to Indiana Law