An update was made on Nov. 5, 2026: A previous version of this story included details about an IPS board meeting scheduled Nov. 5. That meeting has since been canceled.
Educators across Indianapolis are turning their attention to the next big school funding fight as referendum results come into focus.
Supporters of four Marion County school districts have reason to celebrate. Ballot questions in Beech Grove, Indianapolis, and Washington and Wayne townships passed with a majority of voters’ support.
However, one southside district’s referendum failed. And, even among districts where referendums passed, the tone of the celebrations will vary. IPS, for example, is already turning its attention to school consolidation.
All of this comes at a particularly busy time for statewide school funding. State lawmakers recently made changes to the way property taxes are calculated, directing more money to charter schools and slowing a major revenue source for district schools’ operational spending.
The change was among the reasons a record 38 Indiana school districts decided to seek referendums this fall. While many of those were successful, property owners have become more vocal about frustration over increasing property tax bills.
How much will my taxes change?
Use these links to find out how your property taxes might change under the four newly passed referendums.
In Decatur Township, voters on the southside rejected the school district’s referendum request by nearly 7 percentage points, despite the district’s ask for a lower referendum rate.
“While we are disappointed that the 2026 operating referendum renewal was not approved, we respect our community’s decision,” Superintendent Scott Collins wrote in a message to families Nov. 4.
In districts where referendums passed, school leaders attribute their success to strong community support and active volunteers. Washington Township Superintendent Sean Taylor said in a Nov. 4 letter that volunteers dedicated hundreds of hours to the effort in his district.
“Countless people gave generously of their time, energy and resources,” Taylor wrote. “Thank you for believing in our schools and in our children.”
Despite their wins, leaders of multiple districts say they’re already turning their attention to the Statehouse to request greater funding in the coming budget session.
IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson, in a Nov. 4 video statement, specifically called attention to funding for students with disabilities and English language learners, who historically cost more to educate. At IPS, these students make up 1 in 5 and 1 in 3 of the overall student body, respectively.
“We believe our state leaders can and should do better by these students,” Johnson said. “And we will work hard to make that case.”
School closures loom even as Indianapolis passes referendum
The Indianapolis school referendum passed with 63% of the vote.
IPS balanced a tight rope this fall as it campaigned for a tax hike that would nearly double the referendum rate Indianapolis property owners pay today.
That’s because, for the first time, IPS didn’t have the final say in how much to ask of taxpayers. A new group created by state lawmakers this year was given the authority to establish a referendum ballot question that would support both IPS and area charter schools.
The group, called the Indianapolis Public Education Corp., sought a lower referendum rate than what IPS had hoped for, putting IPS officials in a position to both ask for a tax increase while also promising $20 million in budget cuts.
In her Nov. 4 video statement, Johnson said administrators will bring recommendations for school closures this month. Consolidation would need approval from the school board and could take place in time for the 2027-28 school year, Johnson said.
The superintendent did not say which schools would be considered for closure. Her Nov. 4 message comes just a day before IPS launches its new enrollment lottery to register students for the coming school year.
“We are working to share these recommendations and act now so that as enrollment gets underway and families make decisions, they can do so equipped with the most up-to-date information,” Johnson said.
The IPS school board is expected to meet next at 6 p.m. Nov. 10 in the John Morton-Finney Center for Educational Services, 120 E. Walnut St. The full board also has meetings scheduled Nov. 17 and Nov. 19 — all at the downtown educational services center.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Indianapolis Public Education Corp. celebrated the referendum as a win for the community. It’s the first time IPS will share referendum money with charter schools on a per-student basis.
Nearly 60 charter schools participated in the referendum. They’ll split an estimated $48.5 million a year over the next four years. IPS is expected to collect $46.4 million annually.
Decatur Township question fails, district plans cuts
Decatur Township officials are now planning to cut $8 million from the district’s budget. That’s despite asking for a referendum rate 2 cents lower than what property owners pay today.
The referendum, if it had passed, would have brought up to $9 million to the district each year.
In a message to families, Collins said the Decatur Township school board would begin a review of district spending in the coming months in hopes of making cuts by 2028.
Collins said the board will identify “staffing and programming to cut,” but didn’t provide further details. A district spokesperson said Collins was not available for an interview Nov. 4.
“We remain committed to fiscal responsibility and transparency while working to limit the unavoidable impact on students, classrooms and educational services,” Collins wrote in his message to families. “Regardless of how you voted, we share a common commitment to the success of our students, schools and community.”
Decatur Township’s school board meets next at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at the district’s central office at 5275 Kentucky Ave.
Beech Grove, Washington and Wayne find success
Some neighboring school districts are celebrating wins.
Officials in Beech Grove and Washington Townships sought to renew their school district’s referendums at or very near the existing tax rate. That means property owners in these districts are likely to see very little change in their tax bills in the near future.
Beech Grove’s ballot question — adding 2 cents to the district’s existing 55-cent referendum tax — passed with 59% of the vote, according to preliminary results. Washington Township sought the same 25-cent rate property owners currently pay. The referendum passed with nearly 67% of the vote.
Meanwhile, Wayne Township sought to double its referendum rate — moving from 35 cents per $100 of assessed value to 70 cents. The 70-cent rate isn’t new. The district collected at a 70-cent rate several years ago before allowing its 2015 referendum to expire.
District leaders only decided to return to the higher rate after the state made changes to its property tax formula, cutting into money the district uses to cover utility bills, run school buses and pay custodial and cafeteria staff.
The 2026 referendum passed with over over 53% of the vote, according to preliminary results.
District leaders say they don’t anticipate collecting the full 70-cent rate next year but may choose to do so in the future. In 2027, officials say, the average homeowner will pay about $16 a month more than they do today.
Without the referendum, Wayne Township leaders had planned to cut $20 million from the district’s budget. Officials discussed cuts to academic programs and staff positions. There was even talk of closing an elementary school.
Superintendent Shenia Suggs thanked voters for their support in a recorded message Nov. 4. She also asked the community to stay involved ahead of the coming legislative session.
“We asked you to invest in our schools at a time when so many families are already stretched thin,” Suggs told voters in the Nov. 4 message. “We will not take your trust for granted. Not for one day, not with one dollar.”
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations. Sign up for our free newsletters.
Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
