DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE
100 NORTH SENATE AVENUE
IGC-N, ROOM N1058
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46204

IN THE MATTER OF THE REVIEW OF 
PROPOSED LANGUAGE FOR A BALLOT 
QUESTION REGARDING HAIVIILTON No. 16-003-REF
SOUTHEASTERN SCHOOLS 

 

FINDINGS AND FINAL DETERMINATION ON PROPOSED QUESTION SUBMITTED
JANUARY 26, 2016

 

1. Hamilton Southeastern Schools (?Corporation?) proposes to place an operating referendum
on the ballot for the purpose of establishing a referendum tax levy with a tax rate not to
exceed twenty-two and seventy?five hundredths cents ($02275) per one hundred dollars
($100) of assessed value. 

2. Under Indiana law, voters in the area served by the Corporation will vote in a referendum to
approve or deny the Corporation?s proposed tax rate.

3. Indiana law governs the format and wording of the ballot question for the referendum.

4. Under Indiana law, the ?question to be submitted to the voters in the referendum must read
as follows?:

?For the (insert number) calendar year or years immediately following the
holding of the referendum, shall the school corporation impose a property tax rate
that does not exceed (insert amount) cents (insert
amount) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation and that is in
addition to all other property taxes imposed by the school corporation for the
purpose of funding (insert short description of purposes)?? 

Indiana Code 20-46-1?1 0 (emphasis added).
5. The ballot question then must contain three parts:

0 the number of calendar years for which the tax will be in effect;
a the amount of the tax rate; and
the purpose of the funding.

6. The law requires the Department of Local Government Finance (?Department?) to review the
language for compliance with IC 20-46-1?10. The Department may either approve or reject
the language.

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7. On January 26, 2016, the Department received an e-mail from the Corporation presenting the
proposed ballot question for the referendum.

8. The Corporation requested that the Department review this proposed question:

?For the seven (7) calendar years immediately following the holding of the
referendum, shall the Hamilton Southeastern Schools impose a property tax rate
that does not exceed twenty-two and three quarters cents ($02275) on each one
hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation and that is in addition to all other
property taxes imposed by the school corporation for the purpose of funding daily -
educational operations, academic and support programs, including the reduction in
class sizes, and for any other educational needs of the school corporation??

Compliance of Language
9 The Department must review the proposed language for compliance with IC 20-46-1?10. The
Department may either approve or reject the language. The Department concludes that the
language is in compliance with IC 20-46-1-10.

Final Determination

WHEREFORE, based on the above ?ndings and applicable law, the Department ?nds that the
proposed language is in compliance with IC 20-46-1-10 and approves the language as proposed.

Dated this ?x day of January, 2015.

STATE OF INDIANA 
DEPTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE

  6W,  

Courtney L. Sbhaafsma, Comrliissioner
Department of Local. Government Finance

  
        

STATE OF INDIANA
DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE

1, Michael E. Duffy, "General Counsel for the Department of Local Government Finance, hereby
certify that the above is an order of the Commissioner of the Department of Local Government
Finance made this date in the above?entitled matter and that the Commissioner has personally
signed the same under her statutory authority.

 

WI  MY HAND A SE 0f the Commissioner on this   day of January, 2015.

hael E. Duffyi?fGeneral Coimdel  

partment of Local Government 

 

 

  
    

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