The Anderson Community Schools Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution to place a referendum tax levy on the November ballot.
The vote, taken during Monday’s regular board meeting, sets the stage for voters to decide on the renewal of an eight-year measure with a maximum tax rate of $0.1077.
According to the resolution, failure to pass the referendum would mean, for a median residence of $100,000, the annual tax bill would decrease by $54. Passage of the referendum would keep the tax rate the same.
If passed, the referendum would remain active from 2027 to 2034.
During a discussion, board member JoAnna Collette gave a presentation to provide context for the proposed referendum and review the district’s current financial situation.
The referendum, she said, would bring in $2.9 million per year, which would help mitigate the district’s budget deficit and give ACS more time to make sensible reductions.
Collette said that the district currently faces a $6.1 million annual deficit, with about $5 million coming from the education fund and about $1.1 million from the operating fund.
Over eight years, the corporation is expected to see a loss of at least $23.8 million, with at least $11 million being lost due to state property tax reductions, and at least $12.8 million being lost to required charter school revenue sharing.
Without the referendum, she said, ACS is expected to see a deficit of $8.25 million in 2028. With the referendum, the expected deficit is $5.35 million.
The shortfall, she added, would potentially imperil academic support services, services for students with special needs and transportation operations. Passage of the referendum would stabilize those areas and help trim the deficit.
Collette acknowledged that, although the referendum would bring in $2.9 million per year, it would not fully fix the district’s financial situation.
“The referendum is not a magic fix,” Colette said. “It’s not a blank check, and it’s not a way to avoid hard decisions. It’s one part of a responsible plan to keep current local support in place, while this district also has to make reductions.
“It gives Anderson Community Schools a stronger position to protect students and preserve stability.”
This article appeared in The Herald Bulletin.