001Mr President if I could add very quickly Indiana has become a referendum State uh where many districts across our state is seeking referendums or have sought a referendum communities such as valarezo Chesterton monster those are communities that have gone out to or school districts that have gone out to their communities seeking a referendum and have been successful the community of Chesterton has two referendums that their Community is paying for so the need is out there it's not just the Lake Station Community Schools need currently on the November 7th ballot there are 29 school districts across the state of Indiana that is Seeking a referendum for operations to maintain transportation to keep the lights on to keep the schools running deal with Safety and Security issues of our schools that's what our operating referendum is all
002about some are seeking a capital referendum where they want to use money to build a new school remodel existing schools so those are the two primary referendums that are on the ballot within those 29 districts that are having a referendum vote on November 7th clearly ours is an operating referendum that's what our vote and our communities approved in 2017 and that's exactly the same thing that we are asking you approve November 7th 2023 also our rate is exactly the same that we asked for in 2017 so there is no tax increase as Mr Torio was talking about because we're asking for the very same amount of money that we asked for in 2017 17 which is 54 cents for $100 of assessed valuation many people have sent me in emails talked to me as to
003why is the question that's going to appear on the ballot saying that on average the property taxes for a resident or for a business in our community is going up 46.3% my answer to that is that question is controlled by the Indiana general assembly and they passed a law saying that question for referendums must be written The Way It Was Written to include an average increase in property taxes whether there going to be one or not as like I said the school is not going to increase your taxes because we are asking for the very same rate that we asked for in 2017 so that question is misleading and it's misleading on purpose please on our website www. lakes. K12 n. us look for the word referendum click on it it will take you to
004our referendum informational page if you look for tax calculator which will be on the left hand side of that page click on tax calculator and I want you to be able to see what this referendum will cost you and your family by going to that tax calculator putting in the assessed valuation of your home and I must stress the assessed valuation of your home hit enter or return and it will calculate what you will pay a month and what you will pay for a full year the average the average cost to you the homeowner and the business owner in Lake Station will be giving up a pizza one time a month I happen to favor JJ's Pizza it's hard for me to give that up but to invest in our students and to invest in
005our schools I'm willing to give up one JJ's Pizza a month and take that that money and invest it in our schools and I truly hope you will see it that way as an investment in our children and investment in our future for the sake of our school district and our community we must invest in our children the future I'll get off my soapbox here but if you do have questions please give me a call I'll be happy to answer your questions I'll be happy to sit down with you and talk with you and my last point on Thursday November 2nd at 6: PM there will be an informational meeting here at Edison Junior Senior High School where we will share information with you answer your questions and we will be able to go through
006a sample tax bill where our community members can see EX exactly where that average increase of 46.3 1% is what it means is the school will be getting on average 46.3 one% more property tax money towards our school that meeting is Thursday November 2nd at 6: PM please come it will be an hour meeting but it will be loaded with information factual information to help you make the best decision for you for your family your children your grandchildren our future of Lake Station thank you Mr President