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http://www.post-trib.com/news/porter/17496...kulsref.article

County not paid for referendums
* Porter, Pine Townships owe Porter County $27K, for June bond vote.
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September 3, 2009
By Jane Huh, Post-Tribune staff writer

The superintendent of Porter Township Schools says the district intends to repay Porter County for the referendum earlier this year.

Superintendent Nicholas Brown's comment follows Monday's Porter County Election Board meeting where members expressed dismay over the unpaid payment totaling $27,000 from Porter Township schools and Michigan City Area Schools.

A state law passed this year requires the school districts to pay the county for the costs for holding referendums during a non-election year.

At Monday's meeting the board asked Clay Patton, board attorney, to reach the attorneys for both districts to find about the delays.

In June, Porter Township voters rejected a $35 million bond issue for an expansion project at Boone Grove High School.

Brown said there's no motive behind the district's unpaid reimbursement of $15,497.

"The non-payment is a not a statement of anything ... not by any means," he said.

The bill, which was sent over the summer, "probably got tied up in the process," he added.

The bill, along with other claims for approval, likely will be on the docket for claims approval at the next school board meeting scheduled for Sept. 15, Brown said.

Pine Township voters went to the polls in the summer to reject a $39.5 million bond issue for construction of a career and technology center at Michigan City High School in LaPorte County.

Pine Township had to take part in the special election because Michigan City Area Schools extends into its border.

According to Sundae Kubacki, co-director of the Porter County Voter Registration office, the county is owed $11,558 for the referendum.

"The request has been turned over to the (school) board attorney for his attention," Betsy Kohn, director of communication for Michigan City Area Schools, said.

Contact Jane Huh at 477-6019 or jhuh@post-trib.com