Valparaiso Community School Corp. Superintendent Mike Berta said, while the district is set to receive increased funding next year for full-day kindergarten, he remains concerned about a portion of the district's budget funded by the state.
Despite this, he said there is no need at this time and there has been no talk about pursuing a voter referendum in support of raising property taxes for the school district.
Berta and other school representatives left at least one official with the impression that a referendum is coming after presenting a detailed report Monday on the district's budget to the Porter County Council.
The presentation was made because the County Council has been charged by the state with reviewing and approving the district budget as a result of it having an appointed rather than elected school board.
Sharon Qualkenbush, who is Valparaiso schools chief financial officer, told the County Council the proposed 2013 $61.1 million budget is 1.6 percent more than the current year as a result of increased funding for full-day kindergarten and an increase of $114 per student.
Berta said Wednesday part of the reason he remains cautious about the funding coming from the state is that there are many variables and some unknowns.
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The Duneland School Corp. narrowly won support earlier this year for its referendum to raise property taxes from 86 cents per $100 in assessed valuation to $1.08 to generate more money for schools.
Voters in Crown Point approved a 21 cent increase in May 2011 for school operations, and Lake Central School Corp. won approval in November on a second bid to borrow money to rebuild two schools.
