Ind. Voters Trending Against Schools In Tax Votes

CHARLES WILSON

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana taxpayers may not be in the mood to pay for bigger, better schools in tough economic times, but they're more willing to help school districts make ends meet in most cases.

That's what the results of a series of property tax referendums on school issues held last week across the state seem to say, according to lawmakers and other experts.

"The message to the school corporations is you have to start living within your means just like every other Hoosier family has to," said state Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel.

Voters last Tuesday voted down three proposed school building projects. The one to win approval — in southern Indiana's Southwest Dubois district — was for renovations, not new construction. Eight of nine school construction projects were rejected in previous referendums this year.

Districts that asked for permission to raise property taxes beyond a new state-mandated 1 percent cap next year to meet operating costs fared better, with two out of three winning approval Tuesday.

"I think the public looks at that a little differently than they do bricks and mortar," said Dennis Costerison, executive director of the Indiana Association of School Business Officials.