Residents Encouraged To Vocalize Consolidation Concerns


(posted Jan 4)

Speedway residents are determined to put the brakes on the governor's consolidation plan by signing petitions, e-mailing, and writing letters. State Senator Mike Young encouraged the residents to crusade for Speedway Public Schools at the January 3 town hall / town council meeting by making their opinions known to the governor. The governor's plan came from the Kernan-Shepherd Report to consolidate government with public safety, schools, libraries, township assessors, and trustees.

Young explained the more people involved that are against the plan the less likely it would pass or forwarded out of a committee hearing to the full Senate and House floors for votes.

Young and State Representative Phil Hinkle both serve on the local government reform committee where the bill could possibly be assigned. Young explained there is nothing to stop someone from drafting a bill, but it can be amended once it goes to committee, or a legislator could persuade other committee members not to vote for it. He said he would use information that Denise Phillips submitted from the Department of Education and Purdue University concerning consolidation.

Phillips explained the data she gathered does not show that bigger is better and Speedway taxes could go up as much 40% to 50% if consolidation would happen.

Young also presented information that depicts Speedway Schools excelling above Wayne Township and Indianapolis Public Schools. Speedway has a 85% graduation rate while Wayne Township has a 62% rate and IPS has a 52% rate.
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Hinkle said the school consolidation could be assigned to the education committee which would mean Hinkle and Young would not be able to insert an amendment to exclude Speedway since they are not part of the committee. Hinkle said if that happens, then the only time they would have a chance to amend it is on the floor during second reading.

Young encouraged Speedway residents to attend committee hearings to support the anti-consolidation movement.

One lady suggested sending students to the State House to vocalize their desire to maintain Speedway Public Schools. Young agreed it would be a good idea because it is their future and education at stake. He said he could orchestrate youth day in front of the governor's office.

The report requires consolidation for schools with less than 2,000 students except for charter schools. Ball State University/Charters Schools Director Dr. Larry Gabbert explained that charters schools are not involved with the consolidation because they were created by statute. He said it would require changes to the law for charter schools to be included in the consolidation plan.

In an email from the Local Government Reform Commission, "The commission's recommendations did not address charter schools relative to reorganization. There's no reason to believe that they would have intended to exclude them from the recommendation about better joint purchasing by schools."

Library Board President Gene Markiewicz encourage people to sign petitions to save the library from consolidation with Indianapolis Marion County Public Library.

Young said that is the reason that consolidation plan came about this time is to save money because of the property tax crisis. He said he doubted Supreme Court Justice Randall Shepherd or former Governor Joseph Kernan were thinking about Speedway's money supporting the surrounding governments when examining ways to reduce government spending.

Young and Hinkle both agree that property taxes should be eliminated entirely and be replaced by increases in sales, income and corporate taxes. This idea did not set well with Speedway Redevelopment Commission President Scott Harris and former school board member Sam Golden.

Golden believed that Speedway residents would be losing its local control if it gave up property taxes and that it would cost the taxpayers more with the other alternative taxes because those dollars would be subsidizing other governmental units that have higher expenditures.

Harris wanted to maintain control through local property taxes to be able to fund the redevelopment projects that rely on the increase of assessed valuation to fund the revitalization effort. Young said if complete abolishing of property taxes is not approved, he is prepared to amend Senate Resolution 8 on Jan 8 to abolish taxes for homesteads only, thus leaving industry, business and farms tied to the property tax system.

Hinkle still favors complete abolishing of property taxes."I am presently of the opinion that any plan must call for complete abolishing of all property taxes. Also, I am leaving flexibility in my thinking to perhaps provide for a "User Fee" for public safety services provided to properties that are not residential."

Young said nobody so far has offered to carry the consolidation bill, but he said anything is possible so he'll continue to watch to make sure it is not attached to another bill later that could end up being passed. He also noted that he is sponsoring SB 21 that will allow rebates to be deducted directly from the tax reconciliation bill instead of being mailed out separately months later. He plans to introduce this bill on January 8. He also invited the public to the State House Senate Chamber January 7 at 7:30 pm to listen to his constituents' concerns.