Six operating referendums will appear on local ballots in Indiana on November 4th. These referendums are exclusively for operating renewals, with no school safety or construction measures included. ICPE supports the passage of every operating referendum.

Why? Indiana is at a critical tipping point. The failure of the state legislature to keep public school funding in line with inflation, combined with the effects of SEA 1, has stretched school budgets and will continue to do so. Despite the fact that the overall K–12 population is shrinking, Indiana is educating over 44,000 more students than before vouchers, and with less money. That increases the financial burden on local taxpayers. Approving an operating referendum is now more important than ever.

When funding falls short, students pay the price: longer bus rides, bigger classes, fewer teachers and support staff, and a shrinking selection of courses and programs. Until the Indiana Statehouse fully funds public schools in Indiana, approving your school’s operating referendum is essential. Share this post with any friends or family members in these six school districts. Raise awareness in your community. Your vote is important. Vote for public education. 

COSTS TO OPERATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE GROWN DUE TO INFLATION

Examples of increased costs over the last three years for a district with 1,300 students: 

• Paper towels and goods  – 36% ↑
• Property and casual insurance costs – 40% ↑
• Utilities – 25% ↑
• School buses – 22% ↑
• Staffing wages – 20% ↑

Source: Testimony of Shelby Eastern Schools Superintendent, Todd Hitchcock, SB 443, Tax & Fiscal Policy, January 28, 2025. 

REFERENDUM DETAILS

• Avon Community School Corporation, Hendricks County: Referendum Website
• Cannelton City School Corporation, Perry County: Findings and Final Determination on Proposed Ballot Question
• Duneland School Corporation, Porter County: Referendum Website 
• Hanover School Corporation, Lake County: Referendum Website 
• Lake Central School Corporation, Lake County: Referendum Website
• Northwest Allen Community Schools, Allen County: Referendum Website

DEFINITIONS & MORE INFORMATION

Referendum – A local ballot question asking a school district community to approve a higher, time-sensitive tax levy amount to help improve schools. There are a few types of school referendums in the state. Only traditional public schools, for now, can put referendum questions on the ballot.

Operating Referendum – Pays for resources that directly affect children’s learning, like adding funding to hire more teachers reducing class sizes or using funds to create necessary support positions like reading and math specialists. This referendum type attempts to compensate for the lack of tuition support funding coming from the state via the state budget.

Construction Referendum – Pays for capital projects such as renovations and overall improvements to schools, updating facilities for safety and health or expansion, etc.

Safety Referendum – Pays for services such as mental health programs, school resource officers, and security enhancements.

For a deeper dive into referendum history in the state, see this long-running data dashboard by Indiana University Center for Evaluation and Education Policy.  

Further information on referendums, including history, can be found on the state Department of Local Government Finance.

Results of the May 2025 school referendum can be found here.