Published: March 24, 2008 05:06 pm            

Time to talk consolidation

Bob Myers, interim superintendent of Taylor schools, said last week the district’s community advisory committee plans to finish a set of recommendations to make the district financially secure.

The committee’s job likely was tough; Taylor seemingly has been in a state of perpetual financial crisis for years. But the job was made even more difficult during the recent session of the Indiana General Assembly.

Lawmakers passed a new property tax plan that will cap tax bills beginning in 2010. That means less money for schools – even with an additional $70 million allocated for districts that year.

The school board also hopes to hire a new superintendent next month, Myers said. We have to ask: What’s the rush? The board hasn’t heard its committee’s fiscal recommendations yet, and we have to believe the committee discussed the possibility of consolidation.

It might even be a part of the committee’s report.

Consolidation has been discussed several times at Taylor in recent years, particularly in 2006. That year, the district applied for an excessive tax levy of $1.7 million, receiving half the amount. Taylor probably has until 2009 to get its fiscal house in order before facing what it did two years ago.

Consolidation doesn’t have to be a dirty word. In fact, it could focus solely on reducing administrative costs.

Last December, the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform released a report of 27 recommendations for making local government more efficient. One suggested reorganizing school districts to have at least 2,000 students each.

State lawmakers told us then they envision a consolidation of administrative services. For example, having one superintendent of schools per county.

Taylor has an interim superintendent. Kokomo Center Schools will be without one this summer. This being the final year of the excessive tax levy, and with tax caps looming in 2010, now is the time for Taylor Township residents to give consolidation serious consideration.

Now is the time for a district-wide referendum on consolidating Taylor’s administrative services with another school corporation.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.