FREMONT, IN – Next Tuesday on Election Day, voters in the Fremont Community School District will be voting on a renewal of an operating revenue referendum on May 2.

Those who live in Fremont, Clear Lake and Jamestown Townships will be asked to vote for or against a referendum. The measure is asking for a continuation of the maximum referendum property tax rate of $0.1963. That’s they same rate that was approved seven years.

Fremont Superintendent Bill Stitt has communicated to residents of his district that a "yes vote" (meaning a renewal) “would provide Fremont Schools with the level of funding necessary to be able to adequately staff and maintain the schools.”

The school corporation says if approved, the referendum will raise approximately $2.54 million annually. Over the life of the referendum, that comes to $20.32 million. Out of the annual $2.54 million, $1.5 million is for attracting and retaining teachers and staff. Another $500,000 goes to academics, $320,000 for support of the operation fund and $225,000 for managing class sizes.

Just last year, with the current referendum in place, Fremont had the fourth lowest school tax rate in the state. It currently is fifth in the state. In the first collection year of the first referendum, in 2016, Fremont’s tax rate was 22nd lowest in the state.

Fremont Schools was not able to place this renewal request before the voters in 2022. Since that time, they have been taking money from their savings to help make up for the lack of additional revenue.

Voters will in the Fremont School District will be able to make a decision on the issue when polls open on May 2 or if they vote early.

If the renewal referendum should be voted down on May 2, Stitt says that he will keep putting it on the ballot during future elections.