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Two-thirds of Indiana school referendums pass, but IPS still faces budget cuts and closures
Voters approved 27 of 40 school referendums, including four each in Marion and Hamilton counties, but Indianapolis Public Schools says the new funding won't close its budget gap, forcing mergers and possible school closures.
Two-thirds of the school referendums on Indiana ballots last week passed, according to results tallied after Election Day, providing tax increases to fund essential services from teaching positions to bus routes. But in the districts where measures failed, officials face a two-year wait before they can try again.
A record number of referendums appeared on ballots this year as districts navigated property tax cuts and changes to when schools could place a tax hike request before voters. Twenty-seven of the measures passed, including four each in Marion and Hamilton counties. Twelve failed, among them proposals in Decatur Township, Sheridan, Franklin, Anderson and Shelbyville.
In Anderson, Superintendent Joe Cronk said the district will continue operating despite the defeat. "Today, our schools are open, our students need us, and we have important work to do," Cronk said. "We will continue teaching, supporting, and caring for the children who come through our doors." But he acknowledged the road ahead: "In the months ahead, we will have to address the budget shortfall." Cronk said the "difficult decisions" will require careful consideration "and a clear understanding of how they affect our students and staff."
In Indianapolis, a referendum supporting Indianapolis Public Schools and participating charter schools passed, but it does not fully cover the district's budget gap. Superintendent Aleesia Johnson said the district will begin moving forward with budget-cutting measures this month, including school closures. The district will ask the board to vote on school mergers and "right-sizing" innovation school agreements this month, since next year's enrollment has started.
"Difficult decisions still lie ahead for us," Johnson said in a video message.
The IPS board has a work session scheduled for Tuesday.
The mixed results underscore the pressure on Indiana school districts as they balance rising costs against taxpayer willingness to fund public education. For communities where referendums failed, the two-year waiting period means no immediate path to new revenue, forcing administrators to plan cuts to staffing, transportation and programs. In Indianapolis, even a successful referendum leaves the district grappling with structural deficits that will require closing or merging schools, a process that will directly affect families and neighborhoods across the city.