Indiana Voters Decide Fate of 38 School Tax Measures

Thirty-eight Indiana school districts asked voters on Tuesday to authorize additional property tax revenue. The measures aim to exempt specific school funds from the property tax caps established by the Indiana Legislature in 2025.

Thirty-seven of the referendums sought permission to collect extra taxes for daily operations. The School City of Whiting in Lake County was the only district to seek approval for a construction project.

District leaders warned that failure to pass these measures would force drastic budget reductions. Superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools, whose district is in Marion County, projected cuts between $45 million and $50 million if the referendum fails.

The Indianapolis district leader described the potential impact as a "massive disruption." This includes staffing freezes, the closure of specific programs, and a reduction in student services across the district.

Noblesville Schools in Hamilton County cited similar risks. The district warned it could face a 20 percent staff cut, the closure of one elementary school, and the reduction or ending of various academic and extracurricular programs.

The School City of Whiting seeks to fund a $39.3 million project to upgrade and expand its school buildings. This construction levy stands apart from the operational tax increases requested by the other 37 districts.

As of Tuesday, no projected results had been announced for any of the 38 referendums. The list of districts awaiting results includes Anderson Community School Corporation in Madison County, Carmel Clay Schools in Hamilton County, and Franklin Community School Corporation in Johnson County. Other pending decisions involve the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township, the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township, and the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, all in Marion County. Noblesville Schools, Westfield Washington Schools, and Hamilton Southeastern Schools in Hamilton County also await voter outcomes. The full list of pending districts spans from Barr-Reeve Community Schools in Daviess County to Zionsville Community Schools in Boone County.