Referendum Investment
MVCSC would like to thank the Mt. Vernon community for their support in passing the 17 cent referendum. Please see HERE for the full note of appreciation.
(Scroll Down for Tax Investment Calculator)
The $.17 Operating Referendum is a necessary step to:
- Secure adequate funding for MVCSC's Operations Fund to continue to operate at a functional level. The Operations Fund pays for staff (maintenance, bus drivers, custodians, etc.), utilities (keeping the lights on), buses and the maintenance/gas for buses.
- Provide a pay increase for our teachers and classified staff to make their pay more competitive in the county. Mt. Vernon has not fully recovered from when pay was frozen for five years in the mid-2000's.
- Provide additional school resource officers so there is at least one at every school.
- The referendum funds would replace the increment dollars, tax cap loss and fire territory revenue loss, making our Operations Fund solvent. Mt. Vernon has made enough savings to not need to recapture the full Operations Fund revenue loss.
The Operations Fund Deficit is due to:
- Increment Loss: Our Increment dollars ($3.3 million annually for 10 years) that support approximately one-third of our Operations Fund revenue will end in December 2022. That will create a deficit for our district which will impact our ability to provide outstanding support for our 4,500+ students.
- Fire Territory Financial Loss: While we support having adequate fire response teams, the fire territory development reduced our Operations Fund revenue by just over $1 million, annually. That means less money to support quality instruction in our classrooms.
- Tax Cap Loss: MVCSC experiences a high tax cap loss, spanning from $3.5 million in 2021 and an expected $3.8 million in 2022.
Savings Made: Mt. Vernon has taken great strides in making up for this financial loss as well as the significant loss we incur annually due to property tax caps. We have made cuts in expenditures and initiated many savings that help us to the tune of over $2,000,000 each year. These are real savings to you and other taxpayers in our school community. Mt. Vernon has made enough savings to not need to recapture the full Operations Fund revenue loss.
TAX INVESTMENT CALCULATOR
May 3, 2022 Operating Referendum Request
$ .17 per $100 of Homeowner's Assessed Value
Vernon & Buck Creek Townships, Hancock County
- Visit the Hancock County Assessor's website here and find your property record.
- Scroll down to the line that reads "Imp Res (1)." Enter that number below & press enter/return. Enter "yes" for "Homestead Property" if you have deductions listed in the deductions section listed on your property record.
- For the "yes" Homestead Properties, the tax calculator below automatically includes mortgage deductions, as well as standard homestead and supplemental HSC deductions.
- If you have an "Imp Non Res (2)" or "Imp Non Res (3)" (non-homestead property), figure those separately for your total. Enter the amount below and "no" for "Homestead Property."
Enter Gross Assessed Value1:
Is this a Homestead property?2, 3
Yes No
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| Illustrative Annual Referendum Tax Investment: |
- Real property assessments are adjusted annually due to changes in market conditions. The referendum liability will change in relation to changes in parcel gross assessed values.
- For simplicity, local income tax property tax credits and/or over 65 credits are NOT included in the tax calculator estimate and your actual tax bill may be less than what is estimated in the calculator.
- The tax liability is based on an 8 year operating referendum. At the end of the 8 years, this referendum will expire.
- For those who have excess residential property, the amount may be more.