Voters approve new property taxes for ten Indiana school districts

Indiana voters approved property tax increases for ten school districts on Monday. These districts will now be exempt from the property tax caps established by the state legislature in 2025. The exemption allows the districts to collect additional revenue for operations and construction.

The School City of Whiting in Lake County sought approval for two separate measures. Voters approved a tax increase for a $39.3 million project to upgrade and expand school buildings. The district also secured approval for added property taxes to cover operating expenses. Superintendents in districts with similar referendums had warned of severe budget cuts if the measures failed.

In Hamilton County, four districts passed their respective referendums. Carmel Clay Schools, Hamilton Southeastern Schools, Noblesville Schools, and Westfield Washington Schools all won voter approval. In Marion County, the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation and the School City of Beech Grove also passed their measures. Two other districts passed: Barr-Reeve Community Schools in Daviess County and Southeast Dubois County School Corporation in Dubois County.

Six districts saw their referendums denied by voters. Anderson Community School Corporation and Elwood Community School Corporation in Madison County were rejected. Shelbyville Central Schools in Shelby County was also denied. Sheridan Community School Corporation, which spans Hamilton and Boone counties, lost its measure. Both Tipton Community School Corporation and Tri-Central Community Schools in Tipton County were rejected.

Twenty-three districts had not received a final projection as of Monday. This list includes several large districts in Marion County, such as the Metropolitan School Districts of Decatur, Shakamak, Washington, and Wayne townships. Clark-Pleasant School Corporation and Franklin Community School Corporation in Johnson County also await results. West Lafayette School Corporation in Tippecanoe County and Zionsville Community Schools in Boone County are among the districts without a final count.

The state legislature set the tax caps in 2025, limiting how much revenue school districts can collect without voter approval. Districts that win a referendum are not subject to these limits for the approved funds. This allows them to raise more money than they otherwise would under the standard property tax rules.