Franklin City Schools Issue #4

 Franklin City Schools has placed an issue on the ballot in May 2023. 

• Issue #4 seeks to renew a previous substitute levy passed back in 2018.

• Renewal of this levy will not increase taxes.

Because renewal of this levy failed in November 2022:

• Loss of these levy funds puts the district back to 2005 funding levels.

• The district must plan expense cuts to ensure we operate in the black if this levy is not renewed.

The following cuts/reductions are proposed to happen if the levy fails (approximately $1.9 million dollars)

• Media aides - 2 positions will be eliminated

• Technology support - 1 position will be eliminated

• Kitchen positions - 4 positions will be eliminated

• Certified teachers - 10 positions will be eliminated

• Full-day kindergarten would be eliminated 

• College Credit Plus offerings would be reduced

• Elimination of the quarterly school district newsletter 

• Elimination of part-time public relations support

• Elimination of equipment expenses including Chromebooks

• Reduction in busing service to the state’s minimum requirements

• Elementary and Junior High: bus service will be provided only to students living outside a 2-mile radius of their buildings

• High School: no bus service

• Increase in pay-to-participate/extracurricular and club fees

• All club members would pay a $15 participation fee

• Pay-to-participate for sports would be $300 for high school students and $200 for junior high students

• No family cap on pay-to-participate fees

Bond Issue (New Buildings)

• The district passed a bond issue in November 2020 to construct new buildings.

• The substitute levy is entirely separate from this bond issue that’s funding the district's construction project. 

• Construction will proceed regardless of operating expense cuts. 

• Failure to renew the substitute levy will not affect staff and students moving into the new high school or the middle school renovations.

• Bond issue funds may not be used for operating expenses.  

Permanent Improvement Funds

• No operating funds were used to purchase land. These purchases were paid for with permanent improvement (PI) funds. 

• “Permanent improvement” means any property, asset, or improvement with an estimated life or usefulness of five years or more.

•  PI funds may not be used for operating expenses.

Ballot language

PROPOSED TAX LEVY (SUBSTITUTE) Franklin City School District

Shall a tax levy substituting for an existing levy be imposed by the Franklin City School District for the purpose of providing for the necessary requirements of the school district in the initial sum of $7,750,000, and a levy of taxes be made outside of the tenmill limitation estimated by the county auditor to require 13.920 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $488 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value for the initial year of the tax, for a period of 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024, with the sum of such tax to increase only if and as new land or real property improvements not previously taxed by the school district are added to its tax list?