Indiana Voters Decide Fate of 38 School Tax Measures
Thirty-seven districts sought operating funds and one sought construction money, with results pending for all 38 proposals.
By Chioma Brooks ·
Indiana voters held ballots for 38 school spending referendums on Tuesday. Thirty-seven of these measures requested authority to collect additional property taxes for daily operations. One measure, from the School City of Whiting in Lake County, sought funding specifically for construction projects.
Approval of these referendums allows districts to collect taxes outside the limits set by the Indiana Legislature in 2025. If voters reject the measures, school districts must operate within strict property tax caps. This restriction limits the revenue available for staffing, programs, and maintenance.
Superintendents in districts seeking operating funds warned of severe cuts if the referendums failed. The leader of Indianapolis Public Schools projected cuts between $45 million and $50 million. This loss would trigger a massive disruption, including staffing freezes, program closures, and a reduction in student services.
Noblesville Schools in Hamilton County faced similar threats. The district warned it could cut 20% of its staff if voters denied the measure. Additional consequences included closing an elementary school and reducing or ending academic programs, student services, and extracurricular activities.
The School City of Whiting proposed a $39.3 million project to upgrade and expand its school buildings. This construction referendum differed from the other 37 measures by targeting capital improvements rather than ongoing operational costs.
As of Tuesday evening, no projected results had been released for any of the 38 referendums. The list of pending districts includes Anderson Community School Corporation in Madison County, Carmel Clay Schools in Hamilton County, and Elwood Community School Corporation in Madison County.
Other pending districts include Crown Point Community School Corporation in Lake County, Franklin Community School Corporation in Johnson County, and Hamilton Southeastern Schools in Hamilton County. The Indianapolis Public Education Corporation, along with the Metropolitan School Districts of Decatur, Washington, and Wayne Townships, all in Marion County, also awaited results. The full list spans 28 distinct counties across the state.
