Sticker shock: Taxpayers say South Bend schools referendum drove bills higher than expected
SOUTH BEND â Anthony Gianoli doesnât remember if he voted for the South Bend School Corp.âs $220 million referendum last year, but he said school officials led him to believe the measure would have little impact on his property taxes. So Gianoli, 69, was shocked when he opened a letter from the county treasurerâs office this spring and found the referendum tacked on $324, helping drive a 35% spike in his overall property tax bill. âThey said it will be a minimal increase, maybe $10 or $15,â Gianoli said. âI think we were misled on this thing.â Gianoli i...