Hammond schools could cut bus service after failed referendum
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The School City of Hammond could discontinue its bus service to students after residents voted against a continuation of the northwest Indiana district’s operating referendum.
The Hammond school board voted 3-2 this week to give notice it may end its bus service, our partners at Lakeshore Public Media reported.
State law requires that school district give at least three years’ notice to families before discontinuing bus service. Hammond administrators are looking to end bussing by 2027, though Eric Kurtz, chief financial officer for the district, said those plans could change based on the district’s finances over the next three years.
The Hammond school board was asked to consider the change after 71% of voters said no last month to continuing the district’s operating referendum, which is due to expire in 2025. The loss of referendum funding means Hammond schools are expected to lose $15 million in property tax revenue in 2025, or 13% of the district’s overall operations budget.
The school board, in its Tuesday night meeting, also voted to seek $10 million in tax anticipation warrants to see the district through 2024. Lakeshore Public Media reported in October that the district’s budget is expected to be tight through the end of this year.
The district closed two high schools and tore down and rebuilt its Hammond High School in 2021 due in part to declining student enrollment, aging facilities and budgetary concerns. The district also sought to support renovations of its remaining Morton High School through a second, separate referendum this fall. That effort also failed with 76% of taxpayers voting against the project.
While board member Carlotta Blake-King was vocal about her opposition to ending bus services, according to Lakeshore Public Media, Superintendent Scott Miller cast blame on state legislators for Indiana’s system of school referendums.
“The primary funding source for schools, the way it’s set up in Indiana … are referendums,” Miller said. “If you don’t like what I’m saying, talk to the legislature down in Indianapolis. They’re the ones who set up the game to be like this.”
Click here to read the full story from Lakeshore Public Media.