2011 Operating FundReferendum

Preserving the Avon Academic Standard

What is a referendum?

An Operating Fund Referendum allows local school districts to request permission through a direct vote to assess additional property taxes.

Why?

2 year budget reductions total $4.36 million

Why?

• 2011 revenue will be less than our budget

• Current budget is being supported by $458,000 of federal stimulus money

• Property Tax Caps - loss of $3.2 million for 2011 (est. $4.0 million loss for 2012)

How did we do this?

In 2010, we added two schools and made dramatic cuts including reducing:•3.0 administrators•18 teachers – through attrition•1/3 support staff hours

How did we do this...• Reduced energy consumption• Closed the AISE pool• Eliminated summer school• Implemented furlough weeks• Reduced field trips• Employee groups accepted 0%

wage increases• Other

Enrollment has grown and revenue increases have declined

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 20106000

6500

7000

7500

8000

8500

9000

-6.00%

-4.00%

-2.00%

0.00%

2.00%

4.00%

6.00%

8.00%

10.00%

Enrollment

Revenue % Increase

What is the result?

• We cannot sustain the current budget.

• The Avon standard for teaching and learning is threatened.

Avon Schools today…• Student achievement is improving all

over the district• Facility needs have been met for the

foreseeable future• Enrollment growth has returned to

“normal” levels• Our award winning district has become

one of the most highly desired districts in the Midwest

In a recent survey of Avon residents…..

80% indicated a high level of satisfaction with our schools

87% said Avon Schools are the primary reason people move to our community

88% said Avon Schools contribute to property values in our community

99% believe it is important for Avon Schools to remain competitive

A word about property values

“8-20% of a home’s value can be tied to the reputation of the school system”

(The Journal of Real Estate Research – 2009)

8- 20%

New sources of revenue - community support!

• $105,000 in grant dollars were found to support programs at ACSC

• The Avon Education Foundation provided over $57,000 for ACSC programs in 2010

We have reduced the cost of administration in Avon while adding schools

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Number of Buildings 9 9 10 10 11 13

Administrators 26 26 31 32 32 29

Teachers 391 426 457 491 519 501

Teacher/administrator 15 16.4 14.7 15.3 16.5 17.3

How does Avon

compare?

Avon ranks 181 out of 333 districts in cost per student

Only 6.2¢ of each budget dollar goes to administrative salaries/benefits

School Corporation Debt

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 20180.000%

2.000%

4.000%

6.000%

8.000%

10.000%

12.000%

14.000%

16.000%

18.000%

Ratio of Bonds & Debt to Tax Base

Ratio %

Property taxes

• Property tax bill was lowered by an average of 15.87% in 2009

• $0.1705 will add back 10.7% of your property tax bill from this reduction for 2012– School tax portion of your bill would be

below 2008 levels

What does this mean to me?

• Increase of $13.89/month on a $200,000 house

• Help preserve the Avon standard for teaching and learning

Without this referendum…..

One example of cuts…….

Up to 40 Teachers / administrators eliminated

$3.0 million

1/3 reduction in support staff (aides, secretaries, bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, etc.)

$400,000

Total = $3.4 million

Impact to children

• Larger class sizes at all levels• Reduction of programs– Extra-curricular– Academic

• Increased usage fees for parents

What do we need from you?

Vote YES on May 3 – $0.1705 on the property tax rate to

raise $3.4 million annually

– These funds will be used to preserve the Avon standard for teaching and learning

What can you do?• Register to vote

Deadline Apr 4indianavoters.in.gov

• May 3 vote YES in support of the Avon Community and the Avon Referendum question!– Absentee voting begins April 4

• Help preserve the Avon standard for teaching and learning

For more informationVisit us @

www.supportavonchildren.org