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School board sets hearing on financing for maintenance projects

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By JEFF SCHULTZ

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.

 

 

Posted 12/3/2015

 
 

 

 

 

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