Skip To Main Content

Referendum Facts

Referendum Investment
 

 

MV Passes Referendum

 

MVCSC would like to thank the Mt. Vernon community for their support in passing the 17 cent referendum. Please see HERE for the full note of appreciation. 

 

(Scroll Down for Tax Investment Calculator)

 

Funding Visual
The locally-elected MVCSC School Board of Trustees approved a resolution in their December 2021 monthly meeting to place a $ .17 Operating Referendum on the May 3, 2022 ballot. While the $0.17 ask is $14.02 per month to the average household in our district valued at $200,000, the referendum will also tax businesses that are located in TIF districts that are currently not paying taxes. Questions? Attend a Traveling Talk and ask Dr. Parker directly!

 

The $.17 Operating Referendum is a necessary step to:

  • Secure adequate funding for MVCSC's Operations Fund to continue to operate at a functional level. The Operations Fund pays for staff (maintenance, bus drivers, custodians, etc.), utilities (keeping the lights on), buses and the maintenance/gas for buses.
  • Provide a pay increase for our teachers and classified staff to make their pay more competitive in the county. Mt. Vernon has not fully recovered from when pay was frozen for five years in the mid-2000's. 
  • Provide additional school resource officers so there is at least one at every school.
  • The referendum funds would replace the increment dollars, tax cap loss and fire territory revenue loss, making our Operations Fund solvent. Mt. Vernon has made enough savings to not need to recapture the full Operations Fund revenue loss.

The Operations Fund Deficit is due to:

  • Increment Loss: Our Increment dollars ($3.3 million annually for 10 years) that support approximately one-third of our Operations Fund revenue will end in December 2022. That will create a deficit for our district which will impact our ability to provide outstanding support for our 4,500+ students.
  • Fire Territory Financial Loss: While we support having adequate fire response teams, the fire territory development reduced our Operations Fund revenue by just over $1 million, annually. That means less money to support quality instruction in our classrooms.
  • Tax Cap Loss: MVCSC experiences a high tax cap loss, spanning from $3.5 million in 2021 and an expected $3.8 million in 2022.

Savings Made: Mt. Vernon has taken great strides in making up for this financial loss as well as the significant loss we incur annually due to property tax caps. We have made cuts in expenditures and initiated many savings that help us to the tune of over $2,000,000 each year. These are real savings to you and other taxpayers in our school community. Mt. Vernon has made enough savings to not need to recapture the full Operations Fund revenue loss.

TAX INVESTMENT CALCULATOR
May 3, 2022 Operating Referendum Request
$ .17 per $100 of Homeowner's Assessed Value

Vernon & Buck Creek Townships, Hancock County

  1. Visit the Hancock County Assessor's website here and find your property record.
  2. Scroll down to the line that reads "Imp Res (1)." Enter that number below & press enter/return. Enter "yes" for "Homestead Property" if you have deductions listed in the deductions section listed on your property record.
  3. For the "yes" Homestead Properties, the tax calculator below automatically includes mortgage deductions, as well as standard homestead and supplemental HSC deductions.
  4. If you have an "Imp Non Res (2)" or "Imp Non Res (3)" (non-homestead property), figure those separately for your total. Enter the amount below and "no" for "Homestead Property."

 

Enter Gross Assessed Value1:

Is this a Homestead property?2, 3
Yes   No

 

  Estimated Cost of Operating Referendum
Illustrative Monthly
Referendum Tax Investment:
 
Illustrative Annual
Referendum Tax Investment:
 

 

 

 

  1. Real property assessments are adjusted annually due to changes in market conditions. The referendum liability will change in relation to changes in parcel gross assessed values.
  2. For simplicity, local income tax property tax credits and/or over 65 credits are NOT included in the tax calculator estimate and your actual tax bill may be less than what is estimated in the calculator.
  3. The tax liability is based on an 8 year operating referendum. At the end of the 8 years, this referendum will expire.
  4. For those who have excess residential property, the amount may be more.




 

 

 

Videos & Resources

12.13.21 School Board Mtg

1.19.22 Referendum Facts 2-min Video

1.28.22 Referendum Facts 5-min Video

1.22 Ref Facts -Full Presentation

3.22 Ref Funds Go Where?

FAQ #1 MV Ops Fund Mngmt?

FAQ #2 Afford Construction?

FAQ #3 Transfer Students? 

FAQ #4 Why 17 Cents?

FAQ #5 Tax Rate w/Ref?

FAQ #6 If Ref Does Not Pass?

Voting Information

Voting Sites / Dates Note: The MVCSC Admin Bldg & Buck Creek Fire Dept are early voting sites & are open now Mon - Fri (8 am - 2 pm) and Sat (8 am - 3 pm)!

IndianaVoters.in.gov 

FAQ - Will the referendum Q go to the general election after this primary? No, this primary vote will decide whether the referendum passes or fails. 

Actual ballot referendum question:

NOTE: Legislature requires specific verbiage in this question. The 15.8% and 10.5% DOES NOT mean your home's property taxes will increase that much. For the average homeowner, the portion of their current total tax bill that goes to the school will increase 15%. This equates to $14/month for the average home in our MV district. The tax calculator on this page is the best way to calculate your household's investment in our community.

“Shall the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation increase property taxes paid to the School Corporation by homeowners and businesses for 8 years immediately following the holding of the referendum for the purpose of funding current essential operating needs and academic and educationally related programs, the attraction and retention of teachers and staff through increased compensation, and safety and security measures, at a maximum referendum property tax rate of $0.17? If this public question is approved by the voters, the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a residence would increase by 15.8% and the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a business property would increase by 10.5%. The most recent property tax referendum proposed by the school corporation was held in 2014 and passed.”