Twelve Indiana school districts whose property tax referendums failed in Tuesday's election are now drawing up cuts to staff, busing and programs. Under state rules, they cannot ask voters again until November 2028.
Most requests still passed. The Indiana School Boards Association counted 27 approvals among 39 referendums, a rate near 70% in a record year for school tax measures that together represented about $500 million in yearly school funding.
Thin margins, real cuts
Some losses came down to a handful of ballots. Mississinewa Community Schools fell short by 71 votes and Michigan City Area Schools by 122, and both could see recounts. In Anderson, the measure trailed by 82 votes Thursday in unofficial results, and district officials believe it has failed.
Mississinewa, in Grant County, one of the state's poorest, will drop one of its two school resource officers starting Monday. To cover about $700,000 of a roughly $2 million deficit, it plans to end transportation for about 1,200 students next year, shrink its preschool, eliminate its last resource officer and immediately start charging outside groups to use its buildings.
There’s some people in the community that did not believe that we’re really going to cut those things, they viewed it as fear-mongering or scare tactics
Jeremy Fewell, Mississinewa Community Schools superintendent
Wealth was no guarantee of success. Sheridan Community Schools, in the state's wealthiest county, lost a $2.9 million operating request even as five of six referendums in Hamilton County passed. Superintendent Dave Mundy said the district is weighing its next steps.
Terry Spradlin, who leads the school boards association, said he saw no clear demographic or regional pattern in the defeats. Clark-Pleasant passed while neighboring Franklin failed in Johnson County, and Decatur Township lost even as nearby Indianapolis Public Schools and Washington Township won.
Decatur Township Superintendent Scott Collins told parents the district faces cutting more than $8 million by 2028, likely including staff and programs. Anderson projects an $8.25 million gap in 2028 without the levy, and Superintendent Joe Cronk said a new board and new district leader will be left to tackle it. Elwood's superintendent, Troy Friedersdorf, said reductions will touch staffing, programs and services.
Winning did not end the strain everywhere. Indianapolis Public Schools still plans to close schools and make other cuts to address a $20 million shortfall, and district leaders hope to win more money from lawmakers.
Pressure moves to the Statehouse
The pressure traces in part to a property tax overhaul passed last year, which cut into a major local revenue source and confined referendums to even-year general elections, when turnout tends to run higher. Falling enrollment statewide could deepen the problem.
Spradlin called the results a paradox, with voters worried about living costs still agreeing to pay more for schools. His group will seek at least a 6% increase in state tuition support in the next budget, arguing that costs such as fuel, utilities and health insurance, which many districts say has risen more than 10%, have outpaced state aid.
The election also reshaped the legislature. House Democrats picked up 16 seats, ending the Republican supermajority, and Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta said school funding will be a priority. Voters also ousted Rep. Robert Behning, who chairs the House Education Committee.
