(Greensburg, IN) – Baker Tilly financial adviser Jay Staley presented a forecast and analysis this week for the Decatur County Community School Corporation (DCCSC).
Staley is forecasting the financial effect Senate Enrolled Act 1 -the property tax reform law that was passed in 2025 – will have on school districts over the next five years, and he says it’s miserable.
“The cuts we’re going to get from the state due to this is around $1.1 million over three years, then, if things stay status quo, we’re going to lose another half-million in years four and five combined,” said DCCSC Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Burns. “It’s just preparing us for what we know is inevitable, that property tax cuts really are hurting schools and to start planning accordingly.”
Dr. Burns says the forecast and analysis were previously presented to his team at the DCCSC Central Office, administrators and staff at North and South Decatur, and the school board.
“We’re not just haphazardly doing things right now, and that the cuts we’re making are strategic and we’re trying to put us in a position to keep all four schools open and keep having top-level programming and doing all of the great things we do at Decatur County Community Schools.”
Dr. Burns says, despite making some tough decisions in the past 18 months, they’re starting to trend in the right direction, but adds the next 24 months are expected to be the hardest.
