More than three dozen Indiana school districts are seeking voter approval for referendums this year, a record for a single election cycle. The statewide proposals include both first-time requests and renewals of existing funding measures.

A major factor is Senate Enrolled Act 1, a property-tax law that reduces revenue for schools and other local governments. As the law phases in, school districts also must share some property-tax revenue with charter schools.

Terry Spradlin, executive director of the Indiana School Boards Association, said about one-third of districts seeking referendums are doing so for the first time. Others are asking voters to renew existing measures, with changes to referendum timing requiring some districts to seek renewals earlier than they otherwise would have. Spradlin said the number of districts pursuing referendums was “surprisingly low” and that districts need to make their case to voters.

In the Indianapolis area, the districts with measures on the ballot are Zionsville in Boone County; Carmel-Clay, Hamilton Southeastern, Noblesville, Sheridan and Westfield in Hamilton County; Clark-Pleasant and Franklin Community in Johnson County; Anderson and Elwood in Madison County; Beech Grove, Indianapolis Public Schools and the Decatur, Washington and Wayne township districts in Marion County; and Shelbyville Central in Shelby County.

The Indianapolis Public Education Corporation is seeking a $95 million referendum whose proceeds would be divided between Indianapolis Public Schools and surrounding charter schools. If approved, IPS would receive a little more than $46 million annually—about half the total—but would still face a projected $20 million budget gap to close.

The measures put local school finances directly before voters as districts adapt to changes in state funding and tax policy. Election Day is Nov. 3.