The portion of taxpayer direct contribution to school corporations comes from local property tax levies. These local funds are typically directed into the Operations Fund to handle facilities, transportation, utilities, and maintenance. This is how it has been for decades in Indiana.
The simple answer to this question: You don't have to have a child or grandchild enrolled in schools to benefit from public education.
We all depend on people who are educated. The person ringing you up at the grocery store, the plumbers who fix your sink or toilet issues, the people fixing our streets or repairing damaged lines when the power goes out, those answering the phones when we call 911 or your doctor and the technician who helps you are the pharmacy. We don't spend any time at all thinking about where those people went to school. We are just happy that they were educated somewhere. When the conversation turns to funding public schools, some voice that the only people who benefit are those parents who have children currently attending public schools.
I don't walk on every sidewalk in town, but I understand why we have them and maintain them. (EVERY STREET NEEDS A SIDEWALK!) I have never called the fire department to put out a fire, but I appreciate that they are there if needed. If I don't check out a book this week in our wonderful library, I still recognize the value and importance of a public library.
Public education works on much the same principle. The importance and need of a public school is not limited to families enrolled today. The kids being educated today will be the adults of tomorrow. It doesn't matter really if you have kids enrolled in school or not, you have a stake in how well we educate those students. That's why every adult within a school corporation is considered a stakeholder. All stakeholders are allowed to vote for members of the school board. All stakeholders are allowed to ask questions about how the school is run.
I think back to the block I grew up on in Tipton when I was in elementary school. Out of 14 homes in the 700 block of North East Street, 4 homes had children enrolled in school. An additional 2 homes had grandchildren in school. 8 had nobody enrolled in school, yet they helped fund my and my friends education. When my kids have graduated, I will be only too happy to have a portion of my taxes go towards our school corporation.
THIS IS IN NO WAY IN RELATION TO THE REFERENDUM QUESTION. The referendum is asking for more than what is currently paid that goes to TCSC. I maintain that I have no public opinion and I am not trying to influence anyone one way or the other regarding the referendum question. Each voter should do their research, look at things from all angles, and vote accordingly.