In just shy of a month, Huntington County voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on two questions that will direct the Huntington County Community School Corporation in how it pays its teachers and provides facilities for students.
Every voter registered in the county will be able to vote on the questions, regardless as to whether there is a municipal race in their residential district.
Today, Monday, Oct. 7, is the final day to register to vote. Last-minute registration can be completed by visiting the Huntington County Clerk’s Office, an Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch or online at www.IndianaVoters.com.
Early voting begins promptly on Tuesday, Oct. 8. When voters go to a polling place they will be given the ballot that coincides with their area of residence. Each ballot will contain the referendum questions.
The first referendum question, also known as the “Operating Question,” will appear on the ballot as:
“For the eight (8) calendar years immediately following the holding of the referendum, shall the Huntington County Community School Corporation impose a property tax rate that does not exceed six cents ($0.06) 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 academic and educationally-related programs, managing class sizes, school safety initiatives, and attracting and retaining teachers?”
The second question, known as the “Project Question,” is:
“Shall Huntington County Community School Corporation issue bonds or enter into a lease to finance the 2020 Safety, Security, Replacement, and Restoration Project, which includes the renovation of and improvements to Huntington North High School, and other related campus improvements, which is estimated to cost not more than $68,480,000 and is estimated to increase the property tax rate for debt service by a maximum of $0.3381 per $100 of assessed valuation?”
Both questions will be answered by a simple “Yes” or “No” response on the ballot.
The questions are both nearly identical to those presented by HCCSC during public meetings held in June.
The public can view live-streamed school board meetings – or watch videos of past meetings – by going to livestream.com/HNHS. A link to the site is also available on the front page of the HCCSC website, www.hccsc.k12.in.us, by scrolling down to “FEATURED VIDEO” on the left side of the page.
The next HCCSC school board meeting is set for tonight, Monday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. at Salamonie School, 1063E-900S, Warren. Another meeting will also be held before the election, on Oct. 28, also at 7 p.m. at Salamonie School. Both meetings are open to the public and will also be live-streamed.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.