Clean Sweep for Referendum Renewals

By Adam VanOsdol, ISBA Communications Specialist
November 2025

All five school corporations seeking to renew their existing operating referendums prevailed at special elections held November 4, 2025, as voters authorized a combined $53.5 million in annual property tax funding, or $428 million over the next eight years.
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Since November 2022, 24 of 28 operating referendum renewals have triumphed, for an impressive pass rate of 86 percent.

In contrast, first-time school operating referendums continue to face an uphill battle. The one school corporation pursuing a new operating referendum on November 4 was unsuccessful. Over the past seven elections, new operating referendum requests have now gone a dismal 1 for 11. The lone new operating referendum approved in that span was the M.S.D. of Pike Township in 2024; no new operating referendums passed in either 2023 or 2025.

Eighty-three Indiana school corporations (29%) will have a voter-approved referendum tax levy in place in 2026. 

Eighteen Indiana school corporations have a referendum tax levy scheduled to expire over the next two years -- 10 at the conclusion of 2026 worth approximately $83 million annually and eight ending after 2027 totaling roughly $60 million annually.