Referendum | Indianapolis Public Education Corp.

Understanding the Indianapolis Public Education Referendum

Referendum Information. Funding Details. Eelection Resources

On Nov. 3, 2026, eligible voters within the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) boundary will decide a public education operating referendum. The ballot question concerns proposed property tax funding for IPS and participating public charter schools for up to four years.

Read the ballot question

Property tax information

Voting Information

Key Election Dates

Early Voting

Oct. 6. - Nov. 2

Hours and Locations vary

Election Day

Tuesday, Nov. 3

6 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Voter Registration

Closed Oct. 5.

2026 general election

Confirm your registration and find a voting location.

Visit vote.indy.gov

The Facts

What's on the ballot

The Indiana General Assembly established the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC) and assigned it responsibility for conducting operating referendums for public schools in the IPS district. Following a public process, the IPEC board voted June 22, 2026, to place the question on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The question asks whether property taxes may be increased for IPS and participating public charter schools at a rate not to exceed 37.2 cents per $100 of assessed value, generating up to $95 million annually for up to four years. The proposed rate would replace an existing operating referendum rate that expires Dec. 31, 2026.

Official Ballot Language

"Shall the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation increase property taxes paid to the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and participating charter schools for no more than four (4) years for the purpose of funding teacher and staff retention, professional development, and advancing academic programs and opportunities by imposing a property tax rate that does not exceed $0.372 per $100 of assessed value and results in a maximum annual amount that does not exceed $95, 000,000? If this operating referendum public question is approved by the voters, for a median residence of $150,000, the property's annual property tax bill would increase by $221 per year."

Proposed Rate and Duration

How the proposed rate works

The proposed maximum rate is 37.2 cents per $100 of assessed value. It would replace, rather than add to, the 19.6-cent rate voters approved in 2018. The impact on an individual tax bill depends on assessed value and applicable deductions and credits.

37.2¢

Proposed maximum rate per $100 of assessed value

4 years

Maximum duration

$95M

Maximum annual amount

Estimated Property
Tax Impact

State law requires the ballot to state the estimated cost for a home assessed at $150,000, which is $221 a year. That figure does not account for the expiring 2018 rate. IPS estimates the net increase for that home at approximately $115 a year beginning in 2027. The IPS calculator provides an estimate for a specific property.

Estimate the impact on a property

Proposesd Uses of Revenue

Teachers, programs, and student services

If approved, the referendum would provide operating revenue for the three purposes named in the ballot question: teacher and staff retention, professional development, and academic programs and opportunities.

Teacher and staff retention

Compensation, recruitment and retention for teachers and staff at IPS and participating public charter schools.

Professional Development

Training and development for educators and staff.

Academic programs and opportunties

Instructional programs, special education, English language support, and access to academic and extracurricular programs.

Public Reporting and Transparency

IPEC will publish a public tool for residents to follow how referendum revenue is allocated and spent

Participating Public Schools

Funding for IPS and participating charter schools

State law requires referendum revenue to be shared between IPS and participating public charter schools that enroll students living in the district. Funding is distributed based on the number of district students each school enrolls and report annually on allocations and expenditures. Since roughly half of public school students attend IPS managed schools and half attend public charter schools, roughly half of referendum funding would go to IPS and half would be divided among approximately 60 participating charter schools.

Illustrative funding distribution

~50%

IPS

District Allocation

~50%

Charter Schools

Combined participating charter allocation

Spending Plan and Reporting

Public accountability and reporting

Per Indiana Code, and for each year of the referendum, schools receiving funds under the operating referendum must publicly adopt budgets and present to IPEC on their spending of operating referendum dollars.

A Spending Plan is attached as Exhibit A to the Resolution approved by IPEC and allocate the $95 million among the purposes identified in the ballot question

View Exhibit A

Frequently Asked Questions

Voters within the IPS boundary will decide a public question on the Nov. 3, 2026, ballot. The question asks whether IPEC should levy a property tax rate of up to 37.2 cents per $100 of assessed value for four years to fund public schools in the IPS district. The question may appear near the end of the ballot. Sample ballots are posted at vote.indy.gov.
An operating referendum funds day-to-day school operations rather than construction. The ballot language names three uses: teacher and staff retention, professional development, and academic programs and opportunities.
IPEC did. The Indiana General Assembly created IPEC as a municipal corporation to coordinate public education in the IPS district.
Voters approved an IPS operating referendum in 2018 at a rate of 19.6 cents per $100 of assessed value. That rate expires Dec. 31, 2026. The 2026 question would replace it at a higher rate. If the question is not approved, the 2018 rate and the revenue it provides end.
The ballot states $221 a year for a home assessed at $150,000, as state law requires. That figure does not account for the expiring 19.6-cent rate. IPS estimates the net 2027 increase for that home at roughly $100. Homeowners can calculate their own figure at myips.org/2026-referendum.
Up to four years. The rate is capped at 37.2 cents and cannot be increased without another vote.
Up to $95 million a year.
If approved, the referendum would provide operating revenue for the three purposes named in the ballot question: teacher and staff retention, professional development, and academic programs and opportunities.
IPEC will publish a public tool for residents to follow where referendum dollars go.
Anyone registered to vote at an address inside the IPS boundary. Voters can confirm if the referendum is on their ballot by viewing a sample ballot at vote.indy.gov.
In Indianapolis, early voting runs through Nov. 2. On Election Day, Nov. 3, vote centers open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more about how to vote, where to vote, and 2026 election information, visit vote.indy.gov.