At Franklin Township Community School Corporation, we believe that transparency builds trust. That is why we continue to expand our Flashes Financials initiative, providing our community with easy-to-understand information about how school funding works and the financial realities that impact our district.

In the latest edition of Flashes Financials From Fred, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer Fred McWhorter explains a unique challenge that directly affects FTCSC.

The "One" is the one unique funding challenge we face in FTCSC as part of our "3-2-1" video series. Fred breaks down complex school finance topics into simple, understandable concepts. In this video, he focuses on the "one.” The one significant financial challenge that sets us apart from almost all school districts across the state of Indiana.

The challenge is our property tax base. Franklin Township Community School Corporation is approximately 85% residential, which means the vast majority of our assessed property value comes from homes. While in some areas this may seem like an advantage, in the world of school finance, it creates a significant unique funding disadvantage.

Indiana property taxes are subject to tax caps based on property type:

• Residential properties are capped at 1%

• Rental properties and farmland are capped at 2%

• Commercial and industrial properties are capped at 3%

Because Franklin Township's tax base is heavily residential, most of our local property tax revenue is generated at the lowest tax cap level.

As Fred explains in the video, "This discrepancy puts us at a major disadvantage." School districts with a more balanced mix of residential, commercial, and industrial properties generate additional local revenue through higher tax cap categories. Those additional resources can help fund educational programs, student opportunities, and operational needs.

With 85% of our assessed valuation tied to residential properties, Franklin Township does not benefit from the same level of commercial and industrial tax revenue as most communities across the state. Fred notes that if FTCSC had a more balanced property tax base, it "would provide additional revenue to Franklin Township Community School Corporation" and help place the district on a more competitive footing with surrounding school corporations.

Despite this challenge, FTCSC continues to focus on what matters most: our students. Every day, our teachers, support staff, administrators, and community partners work together to ensure students experience Purposeful Learning, engage in Meaningful Collaboration, and develop the skills needed for future success. Understanding how school funding works is an important part of our commitment to transparency and collaboration with our families and community. At Franklin Township Community School Corporation, we remain committed to Making A Difference for every student while being responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us. To learn more about school finance and watch the latest Flashes Financials video, visit the Flashes Financials page on our website - HERE.