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Avon school officials say SEA 1 will lower homeowner bills but cut district revenue
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Summary
Presenters for Avon Community School Corp told residents that Indiana's Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1) is expected to reduce median homeowners' property tax bills this spring while shrinking district revenue by several million dollars annually; the district says its voter-approved referendum will be essential to maintain services.
Presenters for Avon Community School Corp told residents that Indiana's Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1) will lower median homeowners' property tax bills this spring while reducing the school district's revenue by millions of dollars a year.
"The median Avon homeowner should see a tax decrease this spring," said Presenter, speaking for Avon Community School Corp. Staff member, also representing the district, said SEA 1 "resets Indiana's property tax structure" and warned that changes to rate calculations make past comparisons misleading.
Why it matters: District officials said the state law will lower individual homeowners' bills but shrink local revenue streams that pay for transportation, utilities and insurance. Staff member cited a statewide projection that public schools are expected to lose $744,000,000 over three years and gave Avon-specific projections of an immediate reduction of $1,500,000 to $2,700,000 and a recurring $2,500,000 annual loss beginning in 2029, resulting in roughly $5,000,000 less per year going forward.
The referendum's role: Presenter said the district's voter-approved operating referendum, renewed in fall 2025, helps protect the district from deeper cuts. Voters authorized a maximum referendum tax rate of 33 cents per $100 of net assessed value; Presenter said the 2026 rate will be 31 cents, 2 cents below that cap. "The referendum allows us to preserve core instructional services amidst the financial impact of SEA 1," Presenter said, adding that referendum funds help maintain smaller class sizes, student supports and competitive teacher pay.
Short-term outlook and next steps: Staff member said spring financial projections show the median Avon homeowner will still see a slight tax decrease even with the 31-cent referendum rate included. He cautioned that SEA 1 will significantly affect the district's operations fund and that, without referendum support, the district would face severe reductions. The presenters said the district will continue seeking efficiencies, work with state leaders on funding, and provide regular updates through an annual referendum progress report posted on the district website.
Contact: For questions, the presenters gave a district phone number, (317) 544-6000, and directed residents to avonschools.org/referendum for the referendum progress report and additional information.
The presentation concluded with a summary of the three main takeaways and contact information; presenters did not announce any formal motions or votes at the meeting.
