BCSC Board votes to place 'operating referendum renewal' on November ballot

COLUMBUS, Ind. - The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) Board of School Trustees voted unanimously on Monday night to place an operating referendum renewal on the November 3 general election ballot, asking voters to continue funding competitive teacher and staff compensation and school safety personnel for eight more years through 2034.

BCSC said the proposed renewal is a reduction from the current referendum, meaning the average annual cost to taxpayers will be less over the life of the referendum. It maintains the same maximum tax rate of $0.156 per $100 of assessed value that voters approved in 2020, while projecting a lower average annual levy of approximately $9.5 million.      

"The results of the 2020 referendum speak for themselves,” said Superintendent Chad Phillips. “Not only did we see dramatic improvements in recruiting and retaining terrific teachers and staff, but student outcomes have also been remarkable since the 2020 referendum, and our schools have eight additional school safety officers. Early literacy and graduation outcomes have shown double-digit increases over the last five years."

Phillips continued, "This renewal asks our community to continue providing resources to help our students achieve at high levels with a lower average cost on their tax bill. We believe the community supports our students and our schools, and we're committed to making sure every voter has the information they need to make an informed decision in November."   

Bartholomew County residents can find complete information about the renewal, including the full ballot question, a breakdown of how referendum funds are used, and a calculator to determine the estimated impact on every taxpayer’s bill at bcscschools.org/referendum.   

BCSC serves approximately 11,000 students across 18 schools in Columbus and Bartholomew County.    

For more information about the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, visit www.bcscschools.org.