A little-known property tax in Lake County generates about $4 million a year for county schools. In the past 10 years, the county has collected $37 million that has gone directly into the general funds of school districts.
Of Indiana's 92 counties, only two in the state implement the tax — Lake County and Dearborn County, and some Lake County officials would like to see the tax go away.
Established in 1976, IC 20-45-7 was designed to help shore up the budgets for sparsely populated school districts in the southern part of the county.
However, that's no longer the case. Northern Lake County has lost population as residents have steadily moved south over the past two decades.
"I'm in favor of anything we can do to save the county money and keep us balanced," said Lake County Council President Ted Bilski, D-Hobart. "We're having to borrow to balance our budget. Anything we can do to save revenue will help us narrow the gap. It will take legislative action to change that law. It's been a topic of discussion off and on over the years. We have new council members. I'm not even sure if they are aware of it."
But School Town of Highland Superintendent Mike Boskovich said his district traditionally receives more than $250,000 annually from the supplemental tax. "If we lose that money, we'd be harmed ... and would have to cut a program or two," he said.
"We need that money to survive. It goes into our general fund budget. We've already taken so many cuts from the state. We have declining enrollment, which has hurt us. When it comes to a teacher's salary, that money represents close to 4 percent of our wages or it could be four or five teaching positions. It's necessary. We rely on it. We would not want to see it eliminated."
The Gary Community School Corp. receives the most money annually from the supplemental levy. In 2012, Gary schools received nearly $485,000; in 2011, the corporation received about $815,000.
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The full article and a chart of the supplemental taxes received by each school system can be found here:
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/some-lake-leaders-think-supplemental-property-tax-unfair/article_931238e8-f837-52cc-b1c9-e27ed7fb3e33.html
Of Indiana's 92 counties, only two in the state implement the tax — Lake County and Dearborn County, and some Lake County officials would like to see the tax go away.
Established in 1976, IC 20-45-7 was designed to help shore up the budgets for sparsely populated school districts in the southern part of the county.
However, that's no longer the case. Northern Lake County has lost population as residents have steadily moved south over the past two decades.
"I'm in favor of anything we can do to save the county money and keep us balanced," said Lake County Council President Ted Bilski, D-Hobart. "We're having to borrow to balance our budget. Anything we can do to save revenue will help us narrow the gap. It will take legislative action to change that law. It's been a topic of discussion off and on over the years. We have new council members. I'm not even sure if they are aware of it."
But School Town of Highland Superintendent Mike Boskovich said his district traditionally receives more than $250,000 annually from the supplemental tax. "If we lose that money, we'd be harmed ... and would have to cut a program or two," he said.
"We need that money to survive. It goes into our general fund budget. We've already taken so many cuts from the state. We have declining enrollment, which has hurt us. When it comes to a teacher's salary, that money represents close to 4 percent of our wages or it could be four or five teaching positions. It's necessary. We rely on it. We would not want to see it eliminated."
The Gary Community School Corp. receives the most money annually from the supplemental levy. In 2012, Gary schools received nearly $485,000; in 2011, the corporation received about $815,000.
...
The full article and a chart of the supplemental taxes received by each school system can be found here:
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/some-lake-leaders-think-supplemental-property-tax-unfair/article_931238e8-f837-52cc-b1c9-e27ed7fb3e33.html
