SchoolsThursday, November 5
Noblesville Schools' referendum passes as most Hamilton County districts win voter approval
The 5AM Noblesville team
Noblesville Schools' referendum passed. Voters in at least two dozen Indiana school districts approved measures Tuesday to collect more property taxes, while 12 referendums failed. In Hamilton County, Hamilton Southeastern, Carmel Clay, Noblesville and Westfield Washington all got a yes.
38Indiana school districts that asked voters for referendums
Fox 59 reported the districts asked for a combined $500 million in additional taxpayer money.
Source: Fox 59
Noblesville Schools had said a 20% staff reduction and the closure of an elementary school were on the table if its referendum didn't pass. The squeeze comes from Senate Enrolled Act 1, a 2025 property tax law that will reduce school property tax revenue.
- Approved statewide: 27 referendums, per the Indiana School Boards Association
- IPS and Hamilton Southeastern funding begins in 2027
- Decatur Township: cut over $8 million from its budget by 2028
- Failed referendums can't be tried again until 2028
The Indiana School Boards Association said failed referendums could mean layoffs, larger class sizes and delays to programming and maintenance in the next few weeks and months.