HOLIFIELD: Build consensus before building facilities

When Indiana’s property-tax uproar reached a fever pitch several years ago, new schools and other public-facility
projects became lightning rods for taxpayer anger. Responding to a perception that school districts and other local government
bodies were building facilities that were too large, too expensive or otherwise inappropriate, the General Assembly enacted
legislation requiring a referendum process.

Not only have the new laws slowed public-facility construction; they
appear to have pushed the pendulum all the way in the other direction, bringing construction to a grinding halt. Only a handful
of building projects have earned permission from voters, leading other local officials to delay or consider abandoning much-needed
projects.

Avoiding building projects certainly keeps property taxes lower in the short run, and lower taxes appeal
to taxpayers. But failing to pursue sensible, needed projects will ultimately hurt communities more than temporary tax increases.
Delaying needed projects can cause a deteriorating environment, overcrowding and pushing the physical plant beyond reasonable
wear and tear. Because construction costs nearly always rise over time, once the improvements are eventually made, they are
likely to be far more costly.

Additionally, whether a referendum succeeds or fails, the intense battles surrounding
the vote can leave long-lasting scars in communities. Failed referenda may derail economic development efforts and dissuade
potential residents from buying or building homes. Instead of viewing the results as a response to a tax issue, outsiders
may come away with the impression that the community doesn’t value education or other municipal services.

In
the past, it wasn’t unusual for school districts and other local governments to take a “trust us, we’re
the experts” attitude, dictating projects to taxpayers who had few ways to object. With the referendum process in place,
the voters are now the decision-makers, and school superintendents and other local government officials must be aggressive
about involving them in the process.

The most effective and productive way to do that is to pursue true collaboration
in every step of the decision-making process. Public relations strategies such as convening a citizens’ committee to
take the heat for a controversial project aren’t the answer. Instead, school districts and other local governments must
work with constituents to discuss needs, identify trends, explore alternatives and reach consensus on the best course of action
long before anyone starts to think about buying land or designing facilities.

Not only is this approach more responsible
to communities and taxpayers, it increases the likelihood a referendum will succeed. If voters truly understand the underlying
needs, see that their concerns have been addressed, and recognize that the proposed solution is the most prudent approach,
they’ll be far more likely to support it in the voting booth.

Carefully planned projects that meet current
and anticipated needs are critical to the future economic health of Indiana communities. But local projects will succeed only
when they are understood and championed by local people. In turn, that will happen only when school superintendents and other
local officials embrace the importance of truly engaging the community and listening honestly and effectively.•

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Holifield is president of FAIR Inc. (FAIRIndiana.org), a not-for-profit organization dedicated
to encouraging collaborative decisions about public facilities. He can be reached at jholifield@FAIRIndiana.org.