Latest news with #D-Indianapolis
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hoosiers make last-ditch appeal before budget conference committee
Vera McConnell, a 16-year-old central Indiana Girl Scout, testifies before a budget conference committee on April 21, 2025. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) A Monday budget conference committee revealed little new information about ongoing negotiations between Republican caucuses, though a bicameral, bipartisan group heard roughly half an hour of public testimony. Sen. Ryan Mishler, the chief budget architect for Senate Republicans, squashed any requests for increased funding prior to public input, saying the grim Wednesday budget forecast that projected $2 billion less in spending 'speaks for itself.' 'We have some tough decisions to make,' said the Mishawaka Republican. 'Please don't ask for more because the question at this point will be, 'Who do you want us to take it from?'' Aside from that early remark, Republicans largely took a back seat for the rest of the hour-long meeting — neither offering comment nor asking many questions. Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, condemned the GOP members for not commenting on private negotiations during Monday's meeting. As both chambers have a Republican supermajority, Democrats are often excluded from such discussions. 'I was extremely disappointed today that would have been — or should have been — a public process to discuss the budget publicly and the solutions … did not occur. We are a public institution serving 6.9 million Hoosiers across the state and the budget process should have been much more transparent,' said Qaddoura. Rep. Greg Porter, also a Democrat from Indianapolis, likened it to being given a seat at the 'kids table.' 'We know they had a lot of conversations this past weekend. So we have had conversations also and we have brought a solution to our situation,' Porter said, pointing to increases on so-called sin taxes and reducing school choice voucher spending. In a comment to reporters, Rep. Jeff Thompson — who leads budget negotiations for House Republicans — said that Monday's meeting was the last opportunity for public comment. A smattering of public advocates took the opportunity to make a last-minute appeal before lawmakers, including 16-year-old central Indiana Girl Scout Vera McConnell. McConnell, who has appeared before budget writers before during this session, made repealing the state sales tax on menstrual products — also known as the Pink Tax — the goal of her Gold Award, one of Girls Scouts' highest honors. 'Women and girls have paid the pink tax, through both good and bad economic times, and it's no longer a fiscal issue. Rather, it's a fairness issue,' McConnell said Monday. 'We should not profit from the necessary bodily functions of people. The time is now.' We have some tough decisions to make. – Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka The average woman will spend roughly $18,000 over her lifetime on feminine hygiene products like pads and tampons — which are taxed as luxuries and not as a medical necessity. These dollars contribute $5.6 million in sales taxes to state coffers, or 0.01% of the budget. House Republicans struck the tax in their version of the budget but Senate Republicans reversed course — much to the chagrin of their Democratic counterparts, who tried to amend it back into the budget last week but failed on a largely party-line vote. McConnell's effort will have a difficult time getting over the finish line following last week's budget forecast. Other testimony used that news to try to push forward a long-sought tax increase on cigarettes. According to the American Lung Association, only a dozen states tax cigarettes at a lower rate than Indiana, which has the lowest tax of its surrounding states at $0.995 per pack. That is nearly half the national rate of $1.93. Tiffany Nichols, the Indiana director of advocacy for the American Lung Association, pushed for a $2 increase, which could bring in an estimated $800 million in tax revenue. However, that number doesn't include smokeless tobacco products, cigars or vapes — all of which are taxed at a lower rate. CONTACT US Nichols urged lawmakers to bring taxes for those in line with cigarette cartons. 'We know from decades of research that increasing tobacco taxes is one of the most effective ways to reduce use,' said Nichols. 'We must close this loophole. Creating barriers across all tobacco products ensures a consistent public health message: all tobacco products are harmful.' Increasing such a tax would, ideally, only generate a temporary bump in revenues as tobacco use goes down. However, reducing Hoosier tobacco use would lower the state's overall health costs — especially for Medicaid, which is the fastest-growing line item. The House has passed such an increase a handful of times but never gotten the Senate onboard. Previously, legislative leaders said all options are on the table with the exception of marijuana legalization and an expansion of gaming taxes. Raising so-called sin taxes — which can include alcohol in addition to cigarettes and gaming — was at the heart of Democrat suggestions for addressing the $2 billion budget shortfall. 'We don't seem to want to tax sin in the way we used to,' lamented Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate greenlights Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission
The Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission got one step closer to becoming law on Tuesday following a Senate vote. (Getty Images) A movement to invite counties from Illinois trying to secede from their state passed the Senate on Tuesday, with the Indiana-Illinois Boundary Adjustment Commission getting a nod from 36 senators. Three Republicans joined all ten Democrats to oppose the move, debating the motion for just over 30 minutes. 'We all have our own opinions of how good things are here in Indiana, but folks from outside Indiana are eyeballing us,' said sponsor Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville. '… we're just signaling to those Illinois counties that Indiana is open for business and we'd be happy to accept them.' 'We'd love to have you': Illinois secession bill earns Indiana House approval Thirty-three counties have passed an 'advisory referenda' signaling their desire to leave Illinois, with seven voting in the most recent November election. In a February committee meeting, some residents said they didn't feel represented by the state and, specifically, Chicago. The boundary commission would likely be a 'generational conversation,' Baldwin acknowledged, and specifics like the impact on the state's Medicaid rolls or child care shortage were yet to be ironed out. Sen. Fady Qaddoura also noted that some Indiana counties might be interested in leaving the state to join neighbors like Illinois, Michigan or Ohio, all of which have legalized marijuana for recreational use. 'Believe it or not, many of our constituents think this is a joke. They seriously think the General Assembly has more important policies to deal with, rather than sending political signals,' said Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis. 'I'm proud of Indiana. I'm proud to be a resident of Indiana. I'm a proud legislator … I want my focus to continue to be that, not sending political messages to other states.' Qaddoura's colleague, Sen. Shelli Yoder of Bloomington, went even further and called the proposal 'a political stunt.' She noted that Indiana doesn't allow for citizens to approach law-making through a referendum — which is what Illinois residents used in their succession vote. A seemingly exasperated Sen. Aaron Freeman emphasized that the bill would just approve a commission, not a final boundary agreement. 'If the fine people of eastern Illinois want to come here? Great,' said the Indianapolis Republican. 'But don't come up here and talk to me about things that have nothing to do with this bill for political purposes.' Previously, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, said such a move was 'not going to happen.' Due to committee amendments concerning commission membership, the House needs to accept the changes before the bill can become law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Chicago Tribune
06-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Indiana House committee hears testimony on bill that would direct referendum funds to charters
More than 50 Indiana residents spoke on a Senate bill targeting public schools, requiring funds from a school corporation referendum to be shared with local charter schools. A majority of speakers at the Wednesday House Ways and Means committee meeting spoke against the bill, saying it would lead to less resources for Indianapolis Public Schools, the state's largest school district. Speakers in defense of the bill said it would allow charter schools to have adequate funding and similar resources to public schools. Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, authored Senate Bill 518, which would require corporations to share funds with charters within their attendance boundaries as of May 2025 if 100 or more students leave the district for charters. Virtual charters would not qualify in the latest version of the bill. Urban communities with several charters, including Gary, will be impacted if the bill passes, according to Post-Tribune archives. The bill stipulates that Gary School Community School Corporation would be exempt from revenue sharing until 2028 due to its distressed status. Rogers testified at Wednesday's hearing, explaining why charter schools need more funding and how the bill would help. 'When it comes to fiscal performance of charters, in addition to an audit by the State Board of Accounts, charter schools are required to have a third-party audit completed every year,' Rogers said. '(The audit) adds a cost to the charter, unlike district public schools, which are only audited by the State Board of Accounts every year and are much less rigorous.' Multiple Democratic representatives had questions for Rogers about the bill, including concerns about charters closing mid-year or how students are accepted into the schools. Democrats have criticized Senate Bill 518, saying it would cause public schools to cut their budgets further. Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, said Senate Bill 518 is not needed because charter schools already receive funding through the state and federal sources. According to Chalkbeat Indiana, charter schools receive an additional $1,400 per student for operational costs to make up for their lack of local property tax revenue. 'I don't know of any other (public) institution in this state … that is told to give money to a private enterprise and is mandated by the General Assembly,' DeLaney said. 'Why not order to give through the YMCA? It's a very worthy cause. … It would be equally unfair and inconsistent with our democratic society.' Districts would also be required to share with charters a portion of debt service levy, which is used to pay off long term projects. Keegan Williams, a student at Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, testified on behalf of public schools. Shortridge is one of IPS' multiple high schools. Williams will graduate this year and plans to go to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He credits his acceptance to IPS and courses he could take through the district's International Baccalaureate program. 'The programming at Shortridge has given me the tools to make myself competitive as if I went to a private school,' Williams said. 'I would just hate to see a place like Shortridge be the first state public high school to have resources diminished, to be threatened by this bill. It threatens our history, and it threatens the very reason why I'm here.' Hilari Vargo, an IPS parent, also spoke against the bill, saying that in an effort to help charter schools more, both school types will suffer. She focused on resources that will diminish, including transportation. 'How is (Senate Bill 518) the answer?' Vargo said. 'How is that going to provide transportation? IPS will also not have transportation next year for the students out of district.' Multiple representatives from IPS, including Superintendent Aleesia Johnson, spoke against Senate Bill 518. Johnson said that if Senate Bill 518 and Senate Bill 1 — which address property tax reform — are both passed, it could 'cause significant disruption' to the school district. The loss of funding would require the district to close schools, reduce transportation and eliminate jobs. 'The question I continue to wrestle with, and the question that remains unanswered, is 'Then what?'' Johnson said. 'Then what for families who have experienced changes and disruption time and time again? Then what for our most vulnerable students in schools…?' IPS has multiple charter schools within its district that would also lose funding if Senate Bill 518 is passed, Johnson said, because the schools are part of a public district. About 30 charter schools partnered with IPS would be penalized through Senate Bill 518, Johnson said. A similar measure has been in effect in Marion, Lake, Vanderburgh and St. Joseph counties since 2023. Multiple commenters spoke in favor of Senate Bill 518, including charter school teachers, students, parents and leaders. All explained charter school benefits, including more time focused on students and increased opportunities. Those in favor of charter schools said the institutions have less available resources than public schools. Dave Ebersol, a teacher at South Bend Career Academy, which is a tuition-free, public charter school. Ebersol said charter schools are intentionally different from public schools and provide 'real-world learning.' Charter school families are already making sacrifices, Ebersol said, with students receiving about $3,000 less than those in public schools. 'This inequity is even greater because local tax dollars follow students in traditional school districts, but not when they choose to go to a public charter school,' Ebersol said. 'Instead, those dollars stay with a district that is no longer educating them. Our families are already making sacrifices because they believe in our schools.' Jean Hitchcock, executive director of Signature School in Evansville, also spoke in support of Senate Bill 518. Signature School connects students with opportunities they might not get at public schools, Hitchcock said, including some who might be the first in their families to attend high school or college. The Evansville school receives about $2,000 less per student, Hitchcock said, and they have less access to technology than public schools, including laptops. 'Fifty percent of Signature students have access to a classroom laptop, whereas most Indiana schools already have one-to-one laptop initiatives in place,' Hitchcock said. 'We're exploring the possibility of opening a middle school, but we are held back because of concern over adequate funding.' Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-Lafayette, asked how students receive transportation to and from school, a concern of various representatives in the Ways and Means committee. Signature School doesn't provide transportation, Hitchcock said, but students can take the Evansville city buses or carpool. Brandon Brown, CEO of the Mind Trust — which invests in public education and advocates for charter schools — also spoke in support of Senate Bill 518. Within IPS' district, about 60% of students attend charter schools, which include a vast majority of Black, Hispanic and low-income students, Brown said. 'When we talk about ensuring that our marginalized students have access and resources, that's exactly what this bill does,' Brown said. 'We think it'll be transformative for tens of thousands of students across our state. … The majority of students who attend charter schools, those students will make significantly more progress than their peers.' Brown said the $1,400 per student is appreciated in charter schools, but for IPS it's 'a drop in the bucket.' IPS has had its local tax receipts more than double since 2018, receiving almost $9,000 per student in local property taxes, Brown said. The Ways and Means committee is expected to vote on Senate Bill 518 at a later date before it advances to the Indiana House floor.
Chicago Tribune
14-02-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Bill to dissolve Gary schools dead, but Senate bill could destabilize urban districts
A House bill that would dissolve the Gary and Indianapolis public school districts is likely dead, but a Senate bill calling for school districts to share property tax revenue with charter schools has raised new concerns. Senate Bill 518, authored by Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, passed the Senate's Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee Feb. 11 along party lines by a 10-4 vote. It moves to the Senate floor for second and third readings. Thursday is the deadline for bills to pass and advance to the opposite chamber. The bill impacts urban communities with several charters, like Gary, which is home to eight. It stipulates, however, that Gary would be exempt from revenue sharing until 2028 because of its distressed status. The bill comes as Gary's enrollment is on an upward trajectory after seven tumultuous years of state control. Superintendent Yvonne Stokes told the Gary School Board Thursday the district's February enrollment count was 4,542 students, up about 400 from a year ago. 'We continue to get students… we're working daily to make sure Gary Community Schools can be the choice for our students,' she said. Senate Bill 518 expands a previous charter referendum revenue sharing law that impacted four counties, including Lake. The new bill calls for school districts that have at least 100 students who live within their boundaries and attend a charter school to share property tax money, and if voters approve a referendum, that funding would be shared. Districts would also have to share revenue from their debt service funds with charters, based on the number of students attending the charter school. With the exception of Gary, the property tax sharing would begin next year in a three-year phasing in of the tax sharing until 2028 when it reaches 100%. A Gary official reported the district collected about $7.3 million from its fall tax draw. The fiscal impact to the district couldn't be immediately determined. Alessia Johnson, superintendent of the Indianapolis Public Schools, the state's largest district, told the committee the bill would likely force the closure of 20 schools. Traditional districts, like Gary, receive local property tax funding and can hold referendums to seek more money from taxpayers. Charter schools don't receive property taxes and their leaders have decried the disparity in funding. They do receive federal funding and state tuition funding, similar to traditional schools. The Indiana State Teachers Association opposed Senate Bill 518, saying: 'We believe that if additional support for charter schools is necessary, it should come from state-level investments — not local property tax revenues — to ensure a stable, predictable funding model for all schools.' An amendment calling for charter school board members to be elected failed. 'SB 518 targets urban schools by diverting local property tax funding from traditional public schools to charter schools that are managed by unelected school boards,' said Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis. 'In addition, the bill does not provide any guardrails or regulations to hold charter schools accountable similar to traditional schools.' Republican officials said the charters are accountable to their charter authorizers. The Indiana Charter School Board is the state's largest authorizer with 39 schools and its board is an appointed one. Meanwhile, House Bill 1136 that called for a school district to dissolve if more than 50% of students in its legal settlement area attend school elsewhere, did not receive a hearing in the House Education Committee. 'It didn't get out of committee, but that doesn't mean it can't come up again in another bill,' said state Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary. 'My sense is it's going to die because of the opposition.' Stokes said she was encouraged to see the bill didn't advance. 'We will continue to work with our legislators regarding any proposed bills that impact the Gary Community School Corp.,' she said.
