DCSC resolves to spend $20M
By Kevin Schnepp Staff writer

Taxpayers and voters of Delphi Community School Corporation received formal notification of the corporation's plans to spend more than $20 million on school construction projects during a tax hearing Monday night.

After a final round of public and board comments regarding a proposed 2008 Facility Improvement Program, the DCSC Board of Trustees unanimously approved a list of resolutions it must abide by during the remainder of the process.

According to the resolution, the board determined "there exists a need for all of the projects included in the 2008 Facility Improvement Program." To address that need, the board made a "preliminary determination" to issue bonds or enter into a lease agreement with the Building Corporation to finance the project.

The board stated its "desires to proceed" with any or all of renovation, expansion or equipping projects listed on the resolution. Items included work at all of the district's academic facilities, miscellaneous repairs and renovations at DCSC-operated facilities, and all related projects.

The bonds will be issued for no more than $20,465,000 and will be paid off within 20 years. Annual payments were projected to be $2,013,000.

According to the resolution, a maximum estimated debt service property tax rate of 49 cents per $100 assessed valuation was approved. The current rate is 54 cents.

Estimated completion of the project was set for August 2011.

In section five of the resolution, DCSC Superintendent Ralph Walker was authorized "to take any and all actions such person deems necessary or desirable in connection with fulfilling the intents and purposes of these resolutions."

A copy of the resolution may be obtained from the corporation office. Call (765) 564- 2100 for information.

The passage of the resolution was one step in what could be a legal battle brought on by those who oppose the plan.

According to Indiana Code 6-1.1-20-3.2, citizens in opposition may begin an initial petition process by gathering signatures and other information from 100 or more owners of real property or registered voters within the school district. The petition would not halt a construction program, but would allow residents to proceed to the next step in the remonstrance process.

If a petition against the plan were to succeed, the corporation may abandon the project or advertise that the project is subject to the petition/remonstrance process, which would allow citizens to follow through with the protest.

Visit the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance Web site at www.in.gov/dlgf/taxpayer/ and access the Citizen's Petition and Remonstrance Toolkit link for additional information.