Public school group expects record number of school referendums

(INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE) — The Indiana Coalition for Public Education anticipates as many as 100 public school districts could ask voters for new money through local property tax referendums this fall.

The referendum campaigns mark a major shift in how public schools are funded and sustained, according to ICPE, which hosted a webinar Wednesday for parents, teachers and public school advocates to support their local referendums.

This shift is partly due to last year’s property tax reform measure Senate Enrolled Act 1, which ICPE estimates will cost public schools $744 million through 2028. 

The greatest losses are expected in 2028, at a projected cost of $336 million.

Schools can seek referendums to pay for construction, operating expenses or school security.

The bill restricts school corporation referendums to general elections in even years to protect voters from unexpected tax increases approved in low-turnout elections, especially if there are no other questions or candidates on the ballot to catch voters’ attention.

This in turn limits how often schools can go to voters for new revenue, at a time when superintendents