On November 3, you'll vote on whether to renew operating referendum funding for Noblesville Schools. Noblesville voters have approved this funding for the past 16 years — it currently provides about $25 million a year, roughly 20% of the district's operating budget. The current referendum, approved in 2018, expires at the end of 2026. Under Indiana law, this funding doesn't continue automatically. It only continues if we vote to renew it.
Technically, every referendum requires a new voter authorization — that's how Indiana law works, and it's why the ballot language can sound like something brand new. But here's the honest picture: this vote continues funding for programs and services Noblesville Schools already offers. The 2018 referendum asked for new funding to enhance programs. The 2026 referendum asks to continue them. Nothing about this vote expands what the district does; it sustains what we already have.
The current rate is 37 cents per $100 of assessed value; the proposed maximum is 57 cents. We're not going to dodge this: the rate is higher. The reason is that new state property tax legislation (SEA 1) reduced funding for schools, while also giving homeowners a credit on their property tax bills. The district needs a higher maximum rate just to bring in a comparable amount of money. Two things worth knowing: 57 cents is a ceiling, not a plan — the district does not intend to levy the full rate each year — and the year-over-year increase is actually projected to be smaller under this referendum than under the 2018 one.
For the average Noblesville home valued at $350,000, the district estimates an average increase of about $2.30 per month over the eight-year referendum period, depending on your specific property tax situation. That's the cost of a cup of coffee for the schools that anchor this town's property values.
Fair question — and the honest answer starts with a distinction: the rate and your bill are not the same thing. The rate is jumping from $0.37 to a maximum of $0.57, and we won't pretend otherwise. But three factors explain why that doesn't translate into a 54% jump in what you pay. First, $0.57 is a ceiling, not a plan — the district sets the actual levy each year and does not intend to take the maximum. Second, the same new state law (SEA 1) that forced the higher rate also gives homeowners a credit on their property tax bills — think of it as a discount coupon applied after the rate is calculated — so your taxes are lower than they'd otherwise be. Third, you're already paying the current referendum; this replaces it rather than stacking on top of it. Run all three through the math and the district's estimate is an average increase of about $2.30 per month for a $350,000 home over the eight-year period — with year-over-year increases actually projected to be smaller than they've been under the 2018 referendum.
The higher rate isn't the district asking for more; it's the district needing a bigger number on paper to bring in comparable dollars under new state rules. We know that sounds like accounting gymnastics. It's really just what happens when the legislature changes the formula midstream.
The district would lose about $25 million a year, or 20% of its operating budget. No amount of belt-tightening covers a gap that size. The likely consequences: significant staff and service reductions, larger class sizes, cuts to academic and career programming, reduced safety and mental health support, and a much harder time attracting and keeping great teachers. This isn't a scare tactic; it's arithmetic.
Counterintuitively, no. Indiana's funding formula sends less state money per student to districts with fewer low-income students — which puts Noblesville in the bottom 6% of the state for per-student funding. On top of that, the district has lost $41.5 million to property tax caps between 2015 and 2025. The referendum exists precisely because state funding doesn't cover what it takes to run schools at the level this community expects.
If approved, the 2026 referendum funds schools through 2034. Then it comes back to voters, as it always does. That's the deal Indiana's referendum system makes: local dollars, local control, and a community that gets to decide, every time.
Check your registration, find your polling place, and learn about early and absentee voting at indianavoters.in.gov. The registration deadline is October 5. Early voting begins October 6. Election Day is November 3, polls open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
We're Strong Schools Noblesville, a volunteer political action committee of parents, teachers, business owners, retirees, and alumni. We're independent of the school district — Indiana law prohibits districts from campaigning for their own referendums, so that job belongs to the community. Everything about our funding is public.
The state provides a specific amount of money per student, and this amount is different for each school district and changes year to year.
Districts that serve more affluent areas get less money per student from the state. Districts with a higher percentage of low-income students (determined by the number of students who receive free/reduced lunch) get more funding per student for all students.
In 2019, these state dollars will be deposited to the district’s education fund to be spent on instructional programs including salaries and benefits, guidance and media services, and supplies.
Other district needs like transportation, capital projects (construction and building maintenance), bus replacements, and debt services are funded through property and special taxes.
When the state implemented property tax cap legislation, it significantly decreased funding for schools. Schools can now no longer fully collect property taxes from residents.
Referendum dollars are an optional funding source that must be voted on and approved by the community. They support the district and can be used in any budget area. Because of property tax cap legislation and decreases in state funding, districts are now more dependent on referendum funds to maintain services for students.
It has. Noblesville Schools has cut roughly $4 million by reducing administrative positions, freezing administrator salaries, renegotiating vendor contracts, and streamlining services — and it has decreased its portion of the tax rate seven years in a row while earning the highest credit rating of any school district in Indiana. Those are real savings, and they're nowhere near $25 million a year. There is no cuts-only path that doesn't reach classrooms.
Also, unlike businesses, school districts have legal obligations for what must be funded, how it must be funded and how funds can be spent. Also, while districts can control expenditures to some extent, they can’t control revenue. This means they have much less flexibility than businesses to address financial challenges they face.
Finally, when Noblesville Schools makes cuts to services it hurts children, and weakens Noblesville property values and economic development.
Starting with new construction in 2008, the district has eliminated facility items that typically drive up expenses like grand entryways, terrazzo flooring, and special-order items. It has focused on low-maintenance/long-lasting options, durable finishes, and affordable mechanical/electrical/plumbing equipment that provide a solid return on investment. The district has also been able to avoid over a million dollars a year in energy costs through energy conservation efforts.
The accomplished Noblesville Schools staff is at the heart of what makes the schools so successful. It’s critically important to pay a competitive salary so the district can ensure it’s able to recruit and retain the best talent for students and the community.
The district carefully compares administrator salaries to those of other area schools, and Noblesville administrator salaries are comparable.
Like other large, complex organizations, Noblesville Schools leaders require specialized professional skill sets to successfully address the significant “behind the scenes” responsibilities and challenges they manage. Like teachers, administrators serve students and the community at a lower compensation rate than what comparable private sector work would command.
Because you live here. Noblesville Schools is the city's largest employer, a key reason businesses locate here, and the number-one thing homebuyers ask about, which means school quality is quietly propping up your property value whether you have kids or not. Great schools are also where this community gathers: Friday nights, concerts, traditions. Every taxpayer in the district gets a vote because every taxpayer has a stake.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.