Tri Creek board "sounds the alarm" over SEA 1, warns $1.8 million hit and outlines options
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Summary
Superintendent told the Tri Creek School Board that Indiana—s Senate Enrolled Act 1 will cost the district about $1.8 million starting June 2026 and urged a public outreach campaign; the board discussed cuts, transfers and the option of a referendum to replenish lost revenue.
The Tri Creek School Board heard a presentation from the superintendent warning that state legislation known as Senate Enrolled Act 1 will sharply reduce the district's property‑tax revenues and could force program and staff cuts.
"When Senate Enrolled Act 1 passed in April 2025 it will cost Tri Creek Schools $1,800,000 starting in June 2026," the superintendent told the board, and said a new residential TIF in Lowell is diverting property tax dollars that further worsen the district's revenues.
The business office shared parcel‑level cash‑flow projections prepared through Policy Analytics that show combined education, operations and rainy‑day balances dipping over the next several years. "By the time we actually get to 2031 there are concerns about payroll at that point because we're going into negative cash balance," a business‑office presenter said during the slide review.
Board members and administrators reviewed three broad responses: (a) begin an expenditure‑reduction process in January to identify the absolute minimum needed to operate, (b) pursue a referendum asking the community for additional local funding, and (c) press the legislature for targeted fixes. The business office noted membership organizations such as the Indiana Association of School Business Officials are recommending legislative changes including reinstating a local income tax share for schools, revising the levy‑growth formula, removing a 15% transfer cap from education to operations, and reviewing TIF rules.
The superintendent asked the board to approve a public communications plan to "sound the alarm" to taxpayers so the community can understand potential program reductions. Several board members supported transparent outreach and said the district should prepare a clear hierarchy of cuts if a referendum fails.
No formal referendum measure or budget cuts were adopted at the meeting; the board directed staff to begin analysis and community engagement work and to return with options in future meetings.