Tax Expert Dissects School Expansion
By Stacey Creasy
PLYMOUTH � Joseph A. Gomeztagle believes there is more than property taxes involved when it comes to an expensive school expansion project.
�There is the property tax issue, the cost to property owners, but before you can decide if a project is worthwhile or needed, you need to look at many other areas,� Gomeztagle told the Pilot News.
Gomeztagle knows a little something about property taxes in Indiana. In addition to working with the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University, Gomeztagle is one who initiated the St. John�s lawsuit that led to the court ordering Indiana to change the way it assesses property.
The Marshall County Tax Awareness Committee invited Gomeztagle to Plymouth to talk about property taxes, especially since TAC is involved in a court battle with the Plymouth School Corporation over its $26.4 million expansion, better known as Option B.
Gomeztagle has said he has not and will not take a position on Option B.
Option B, which includes constructing a new K-4 building, converting Menominee Elementary into a fifth/sixth grade building, and renovations at every other building.
Renovations to the high school would include a multi-use room that adds more than $1 million to the total project. The project also includes a new heating-cooling system that will eventually save money.
TAC is opposed to the project due to the increase it will cause in property taxes.
The school board said due to low interest rates and competitive construction costs, there is no better time than now to expand.
�They are both right,� Gomeztagle added. �But there is much more than that.�
Gomeztagle said a school needs to make sure everyone served by the school district is paying their fair share for an expansion. He also noted the quality of life issues must be present.
�Is this needed,� he said. �Will it improve the quality of life for people in the community? What is working for the schools. You need to take all the information and put the facts out there. The key is the economics.�
Gomeztagle said if the pros outweigh the cons school expansions are positive for the community.
There are no foolproof answers with the economics either. For example, the US has been in a recession of sorts for the past 18 months, but some areas such as Marshall County have fared much better than other areas during that time period.
Option B has been through the first two phases of the remonstrance process. Right now there are a number of motions filed in the Marshall Circuit Court protesting the petition count.
Kosciusko Superior Court Judge Duane Huffer has been appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court to preside over the case.
On Tuesday Indianapolis Attorney John Price filed a second amended complaint on behalf of several TAC members against the school. The amended complaint has been sent to Huffer to see if it will be allowed.
Huffer has yet to set any hearing dates. In the meantime, school officials are moving forward with Option B. The next steps include purchasing land for the new K-4 school and work on some of the buildings.
Gomeztagle has met with Marshall County Auditor Jan Quivey, who oversaw the remonstrance, TAC and school officials to discuss the expansion and to provide information.
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