Tracy
By EMILY TRACY, guest columnist
Brown County Schools are asking our community to support our schools on Nov. 8.
In 2016, voters supported Brown County Schools by approving an operating levy of 8 cents per $100 of assessed value. One penny supports the Brown County Schools Career Resource Center and adult education and seven pennies support the teachers, staff and innovative programming across Brown County Schools. The 2016 operating levy that generates $1.2 million per year is set to expire in 2023. Brown County Schools is seeking a renewal this November in order to avoid a special election in 2023, which would cost the district thousands of additional dollars.
We held three community meetings to gather data and input from community members this summer. All three meetings were well attended and, when we asked about the property tax rate level to support our schools, many expressed frustration that state funding does not adequately support our schools.
The community encouraged us to seek the level of support our district needs to provide necessary funding to:
Ensure innovative programming and support small class sizes.
Reinstate our career and technical education courses, such as construction, trades, manufacturing, etc.
Sustain the addition of a much needed Early Childhood Education Center in Nashville
Support those students enrolled in special education courses
The money raised via an operating levy can only go towards operating the district, not towards building a new facility or completing a capital project, and we currently use 87.5% of our operating levy dollars to directly fund wages and benefits for our incredible teachers and support staff at BCS.
Currently BCS receives an 8 cents property tax rate. We are asking to replace that with a 12 cents property tax rate, an increase of 4 cents to help us meet the community’s stated priorities and best serve our students and staff. For the average home value in Brown County, this is an additional $3.26 per month, which is less than a McDonald’s Extra Value Meal. I want to clarify any misunderstanding of the 2022 operating levy rate that will be on the ballot in November — we are not adding 12 cents to the current 8 cents rate.
If the community votes to support Brown County Schools in November, our district will be able to continue designing innovative programming, increase hourly wages for support staff and provide competitive salaries to recruit and retain the best of the best teachers for our schools and students.
If the community votes no to supporting our schools, we will be forced to significantly reduce programming and services across academics, the arts, and athletics; freeze salary and wages for staff; and cut positions across the district.
The last time we asked the Brown County Schools community for support via the referendum process, you and other residents responded and approved the investments by hundreds of votes. Thank you for that support and we look forward to your continuing support this November.
We are a partner with you and others who are proud to call Brown County home and are committed to making this referendum inclusive. I remain available to meet with you to discuss our plans and to gather your input.
Our Brown County Schools are a key element of our community and, with your help, we will continue to help support the needs of this and future generations of students.
Thank you for your support in past years and I look forward to the future support of Brown County Schools.
Emily Tracy is superintendent of Brown County schools. She can be reached at 812-988-6601 or [email protected].
