Voters in Marion County are being asked if they should raise property taxes to hire more teachers.

Marion students still attend art, music and gym classes, but not as often as they once did.

After laying off half the teachers of those programs in 2013, the district and School Board decided to go forward with the same staffing this year, meaning teachers have to split time between two schools.

“Technically speaking they are not required courses,” said Marion County Schools Superintendent George Tomyn. “Technically speaking they are not tested courses, but that does not mean they are not important.”

In November, voters will be asked to decide on a $60 million plan to fully restore the programs and those teachers for four years. It’s a one mil property tax that would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $75 a year.

“It’s a comprehensive package that covers a wide range of areas and it’s the package we’ve needed for the schools for some time," said Ray Seaman, the coordinator for the Yes for Marion Schools campaign.

At one point art and music programs were to be fully funded at schools this year. But then a board member changed her mind before the final budget.

Superintendent Tomyn said it’s the same sort of conservative budget approach that also allowed the district to rehire many of the more than 100 first-year teachers.

Could the apparent confusion over whether the district actually has the money to hire the teachers lead some to vote against the tax?

The man who helped put it on the ballot and is now coordinating the campaign doesn’t think so.

A measure that would have cost voters half as much per year for school operations failed two years ago, which Seaman said led to the layoffs and the county becoming the state's worst violator of class size regulations.

“Fifty-50. Marion Co. voters are not going to make the same mistake twice,” Seaman said.

If passed, a special community-based oversight committee would be formed to make sure the money is only used for the programs it's earmarked for.