As of Thursday afternoon, fewer than 400 people had voted in Monroe County.
Most of the city election was decided in the primary. But one ballot measure on the Monroe County Community School Board’s proposed referendum is available in the city and in county precincts within the MCCSC boundaries.
The referendum would go partly to covering costs of tests and certifications earned in professional education courses. The district’s superintendent Jeff Hauswald said certified nursing assistant exams can cost up to $200. Costs for welding certification and supplies can reach $1,000.
“We've had a lot of people attest to us that a free public education currently has costs, and there seems to be contradiction in that,” Hauswald said.
The referendum also would expand and subsidize early childhood programming. It would increase MCCSC’s own capacity and contract with local nonreligious, accredited providers.
Read more: MCCSC referendum aims to cover pre-k costs for more than 1,000 students
Hauswald said contracting with local businesses and providers for community services is something the district does regularly– citing the Boys and Girls Club after-school programming.
Families at the 200 percent poverty level with a three-year-old would get two years of early childhood education costs covered. Hauswald said some programs like Head Start and On My Way Pre-K help subsubsidize early learning programs for families. But the district found families locally that were still under-served.
"The low-income threshold for existing state and federally provided early childhood programs weren't necessarily reaching all the families that it needed to reach," he said. "So we started looking at where that gap exists."
Families at the 300 percent level would get 75 percent of costs covered if the referendum passes. Hauswald said some families in this range are accessing early childhood programs, but not in all cases.
In those cases, Hauswald said the district wants to make opportunities more affordable.
Lawmakers in 2021 changed state law, requiring new, lengthier referendum ballot language. Districts now must include percentages on its average property tax revenue.
Hauswald said the percentage requirements can be confusing and not give a clear indication of how much more in individual property taxes someone would have to pay. Monroe County has one of the 10 lowest base tax rates in Indiana.
The referendum on the ballot asks county residents to increase their tax rate on assessed property value by 8.5 cents.
"The most simple thing that we're messaging to families is the true cost on an average home at $250,000 is $50," Hauswald said.
Read more: Public school referendum sharing requirement passes House, Heads to Indiana Senate
The referendum would also go to covering class supplies and technology.
Early voting started last week and goes until Nov. 6.
