For the third time in just over a year, the Christina School District will ask residents to approve a tax hike to help hire back teachers and pay school bills.
The district made major budget cuts last year after residents voted down two tax referendums in a row -- one that would have added 67 cents of tax per $100 of assessed property value, and another to add 37 cents.
The latest plan is for a 30-cent increase, which spokeswoman Wendy Lapham says would net them $16.2 million. It would help them restore teaching positions and supply budgets that were cut last year.
"We're managing and we're doing okay, but this is not a scenario that we would like to continue at this level," said Lapham." We really feel that we need additional support to have those operating levels where they need to be."
That new funds would also help pay to improve school climates, or even design magnet programs. Lapham says that could help lure students who right now attend charter schools or go out of district, costing Christina millions in school choice fees.
"I think that's definitely an underlying idea behind saying, let's really take a look at our future and shape it as a community and make some investment in that," said Lapham.
They're getting parents and others involved in brainstorming those changes. But they can't do it -- or maintain the status quo -- without a tax hike.
The vote on the tax referendum to make that happen is March 23.
