January 22, 2008

An overlooked but noteworthy bit of cost-saving legislation is scheduled to be considered today by the Indiana Senate’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee.

State Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Wheatfield, is trying to reduce the cost of school construction.

Hershman is offering Senate Bill 13, which would require the Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to develop standardized building plans for schools.

Under Hershman’s legislation, the state would develop school building plans that are economical to construct and maintain, are energy efficient and provide for the health and safety of students, teachers and others who use the buildings.

Local school districts would have to provide reasons if they reject a standard design. This would have important ramifications for taxpayers.

If the local school district uses a standardized plan, the fees for an architect and perhaps some other professional services would disappear.

That means a lower cost for school construction, thus a lower debt incurred, thus a smaller long-term tax impact.

Hoosiers have been fond of building lavish schools. In fact, as an editorial in The Times noted last year, a list of the 10 largest high school gymnasiums in the nation shows nine are in Indiana.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has challenged this tradition. He asked the Department of Local Government Finance to scrutinize school construction projects carefully, and some have been scaled back as a result.

Hershman’s legislation would shift more of the school dollar to classroom instruction.

As we’ve noted before, Indiana spends a higher portion of the school tax dollar on debt than the national average and less on classroom instruction than the national average.

People use standardized plans to build homes, and businesses do it for chain restaurants and other structures. Why not for schools?

The Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee should send SB 13 to the full Senate for a fair hearing on its merits.

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2008/01/22/opinion/times_editorials

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