Property Tax relief package--school impact

And if that title didn't put you to sleep, good for you!

Seriously, though, the legislation making its way through the process in Indianapolis may have a large impact on public schools as well as property owners. According to Friday's Indianapolis Star, "the plan [approved by the house] would transfer the 15 percent of remaining school general fund and transportation spending ... to the state."

The original plan also proposed that every public spending project (including schools) over $7 million would have to be approved by a local referendum. The version of the bill that came out of the house altered this so that only "recreational" projects like pools and football stadiums would have to be passed by referendum. We'll see what the bill looks like when it comes out of the senate and goes to the governor for his signature. If you'd like to track the bill, check www.indystar.com/politics.

School finance is serious business, and it's terribly complicated. My husband Steve, who's an educator, has heard someone say that only 10 people in the state understand school funding, and when the 11th person learns, they change it. Looks like that's about to happen, and school boards and administrators will have to keep abreast of the changes.

Lebanon has been spared bitter battles over school building projects, and that's probably because the administration and board have been pretty sensible about the projects they have proposed.

Do you think there are any building projects the LCSC will need in the near future? What do you think of the condition of the LCSC facilities? Drop me an e-mail and let me know.