Referendum 2026

Across Indiana, school districts are working through financial challenges created by enrollment shifts, changes in property‑tax distribution, inflation, and state funding constraints. Tipton Community School Corporation is no exception.

Despite reductions already made, the district continues to face a gap between rising operating costs and available revenue.

This referendum information has been prepared to give Tipton residents a clear understanding of the proposal and the financial context behind it, so the community has what it needs to make an informed decision.

The operating referendum on the November 3, 2026, ballot gives residents the opportunity to determine whether additional local funding should be provided to help sustain academic opportunities, student supports, staffing, transportation, and daily operations.

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Quick Facts

Election Date:
November 3, 2026

Type:
Operating Referendum

Proposed Rate:
Up to $0.25 per $100 assessed value

Term:
8 Years

Maximum Annual Amount:
$2,000,000

Maximum Median Home Impact:
$216 per year / $18 per month

Estimated Farmland/Acreage Impact:
$4 per acre

What Referendum Funding Would Support:

Academic Programs

Student Supports

Staff Retention

Transportation

Frequently Asked Questions

What Would This Fund?

Academic and Student Support
- Maintain academic programs, student services, and learning opportunities that help students succeed. This includes classroom instruction, special programs, academic intervention, and other student supports.
Attracting and Retaining Quality Staff
- Support competitive pay and benefits so TCSC can attract and keep qualified teachers, support staff, and other employees who serve our students.
Transportation
- Help maintain safe and reliable transportation for students, including daily bus routes and transportation needs connected to school programs and activities.
Operational Stability
- Help cover essential day-to-day operating costs and provide greater financial stability as the district manages rising expenses and reductions in local property tax revenue.
These funds will support day-to-day school operations, not new construction projects or athletic facility upgrades

What Would it Cost?

Maximum Residential Referendum Impact

Gross AV	Net AV	Annual Impact	Monthly Impact
$100,000	$32,400	$81.00	$6.75
$150,000	$59,400	$148.50	$12.38
$200,000	$86,400	$216.00	$18.00
$300,000	$140,400	$351.00	$29.25

Why Is This Needed?

TCSC is facing a significant reduction in local property tax revenue.
- Changes in Indiana law will reduce the amount of property tax revenue available to support the district’s Operations Fund, which pays for many of the day-to-day costs of running our schools.
The cost of operating our schools continues to increase.
- Transportation, utilities, insurance, supplies, maintenance, and other essential expenses have all become more expensive over time.
TCSC has been reducing expenses for several years.
- The district has made staffing and operational adjustments in an effort to live within its means while protecting classroom programs and opportunities for students.
Those reductions have included positions throughout the district.
- TCSC has eliminated or reduced positions involving teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, student services, bus drivers, and general operations personnel.
There are fewer remaining opportunities to make significant reductions without affecting students.
- Additional cuts would increasingly impact staffing levels, academic programs, student services, transportation, extracurricular opportunities, and other services provided to students and families.
An operating referendum provides the community an opportunity to decide whether to provide additional local funding.
- The proposed funding would help maintain academic and student supports, attract and retain quality staff, support transportation, and provide greater operational stability.

What is an operating referendum?

Why is TCSC considering one now?

TCSC is facing significant financial pressure due to rising costs, circuit breaker losses, and statewide property tax reform — particularly Senate Enrolled Act 1 (2025), which reduces local revenue available to schools. After more than a year of review, the Board determined that an operating referendum is the most viable option to maintain essential student services.

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