The Duneland School
Board voted on Monday to schedule a public hearing, tentatively set for
Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m., to consider approximately $7.1 million in
building and maintenance renovations over the next three years.
Superintendent of
Schools Dave Pruis recommended a hearing after a preliminary notice of
Duneland’s 2015 certified budget from the state indicated the school
corporation’s capital projects fund (CPF) would be levied at best at $8.2
million. “It’s no longer possible to fund big ticket items and keep up with
regular maintenance and facility needs,” Pruis told the board.
That CPF, according
to Duneland’s Chief Financial Officer Lynn Kwilasz, is a number that
continues to fall due to the “ominous trend” set by the state’s property tax
caps.
Kwilasz told the
Chesterton Tribune this morning that at the Feb. 18 meeting, the
discussion will include what potential impact a bond issue would have on
Duneland taxpayers. She said that information isn’t available yet as she is
still working on the analysis.
The school
corporation in the past has relied on bonding for new construction projects
such as Chesterton High School in 2000 and the additions to Liberty
Elementary School. She believes this would be the first time the corporation
has sought financing for repair of existing buildings, at least in recent
memory.
The tax caps were
enacted in 2008 to provide relief to taxpayers, but local governments
including public schools are losing revenue as more and more properties are
hitting the caps.
The Duneland
Schools have on average lost $750,000 each of the last three years, Kwilasz
said, over $3 million total in the past five years.
Other factors
decreasing the CPF fund include a reduction in net assessed values due to
homestead credits and the neutralization of the pension debt bonds, Pruis
said.
The DLGF is
expected to certify the 2015 budget at $8.6 million. Last year the state
certified the locally supported CPF fund at $9.3 million and at $10 million
in 2013.
Kwilasz said that
Director of Support Services Greg Lindy and his team used cash on hand last
year to take on some major projects.
Lindy said there
are projects that will get done by this year such as lighting and bleacher
maintenance. He also hopes to make necessary repairs to the stadium.
Pruis said the CPF
fund was created by the Indiana Legislature in the late 1980s for repair and
maintenance of school buildings and recently expanded to include technology.
About one-third to one-half of CPF funds in public schools are now used to
acquire technology, he said.
Duneland
prioritizes its CPF funds based on “safety, security and operative
sufficiency,” he added.
Voting to set the
public hearing, School Board member John Marshall said “there is no doubt
this work needs to be done” and commended Lindy and his team on the job they
do.
School Board
President Ralph Ayres agreed and said, “This is a positive approach to make
sure our grounds are as safe as possible."
During the meeting,
Lindy presented a checklist of “significant facility projects” at each
school for 2015-2017 including estimated costs:
-- CHS ($1.5
million): asphalt replacement in the northwest section of the parking lot,
repair and maintenance for bleachers and backstop, building control
upgrades, concrete repair and replacement, installing a replacement
generator, replacing lights in the gymnasium with LED bulbs, and repairs of
deficiencies in the football stadium structure.
-- CMS ($720,815):
asphalt repair and replacement, bleacher/backstop repairs and maintenance,
building control upgrades, concrete pad repairs and replacement for
emergency exits, track repairs and replacement.
-- Westchester
Intermediate ($586,645): asphalt repair and replacement, bleacher/backstop
repairs and maintenance, remodeling to make building “more school-like,”
concrete repairs and installing sidewalk access to play area so children
will not have to walk in mud, ductwork installation.
-- Liberty
Intermediate ($228,900): asphalt repair and replacement, bleacher/backstop
repairs and maintenance, concrete repair and replacement particularly in
wheelchair access areas.
-- Jackson
Elementary ($340,000): asphalt repair and replacement, bleacher/backstop
repairs and maintenance, concrete repair and replacement, ductwork
installation, installing new indoor/outdoor light poles, and main entrance
configuration by putting in extra security doors and building a new hallway
for kindergarten.
-- Bailly
Elementary ($133,890): asphalt repair and replacement, bleacher/backstop
repairs and maintenance, rebuild of chiller unit, concrete repairs and
replacement.
-- Brummitt
Elementary ($161,400): asphalt repair and replacement the entire campus,
bleacher/backstop repairs and maintenance, concrete repair and replacement,
and replacing lights in gym with LED bulbs.
-- Yost Elementary
($131,200): asphalt repair and replacement, bleacher/backstop repairs and
maintenance, rebuild of chiller unit, concrete repair and replacement,
replacing gymnasium lights with LED bulbs.
-- Liberty
Elementary ($119,000): asphalt repair and replacement, bleacher/backstop
repairs and maintenance, concrete pads for emergency exits, new LED lighting
in gym.
-- Duneland Bus
Barn and Special Services Center ($725,000): asphalt repair and replacement,
install new force main sanitary sewer system to connect with town water
supply, former septic system will be paved for parking, gutter replacement
and door repair to buildings.
-- District-wide
security lock upgrades ($2.1 million): locks and door installation updating
to meet modern standards, new locks are too narrow for current doors so new
ones will be needed, particularly at WIS.
A copy of Lindy’s
PowerPoint presentation is available on the School Board page of the
Duneland Schools website. The file can be found in the BoardDocs’ Feb. 2
school board agenda in the section that reads 2015 Budget Update.
The rest of the
budget
When it comes to
the overall budget, Kwilasz said “we’re about on the same level as 2014.”
The state is expected to certify the final 2015 amount at $64,245,215, which
is a 1.5 percent increase over 2014.
The certified levy
totals $26.1 million which is a .2 percent decrease due to the tax caps. The
Duneland School tax rate is expected to decrease by 3.6 percent this year,
with a tax rate of $1.043 per $100 of assessed valuation. The certified rate
was 1.082 in 2014. The rate has decreased because of an increase in assessed
property values, Kwilasz said.
Meanwhile, the levy
for the Referendum fund was levied at $5.7 million, about $200,000 more than
2014.
The Department of
Local Government Finance usually issues the budget orders for all Porter
County taxing units in February.