Anderson board places eight‑year referendum renewal on Nov. 3 ballot to preserve local operations funding

The Anderson Community School Board unanimously approved a resolution at its meeting to place an eight‑year renewal of the district’s operating referendum on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, preserving local funding that administrators say will help blunt an expected multi‑million‑dollar deficit.

The resolution, R‑2026‑20, would continue the district’s operating referendum at the same rate the voters approved in 2018 and was presented to the board with an attached spending plan. Administration told trustees the renewal is projected to generate about $2.9 million a year and would reduce—but not eliminate—an anticipated fiscal gap driven by recent state property tax changes and required revenue sharing with eligible charter schools.

“Two this does not involve any increase in taxes. This is a renewal of the same rate,” the attorney presenting the measure said as he summarized the required statutory language. Board member Joanna Colette urged voters to see the question as a stability measure for daily operations: “This is not a request to raise the referendum rate. This is a request to continue local support that is already helping Anderson Community Schools serve our students.”

Administration provided the board with current financial projections showing an existing annual deficit of roughly $6.1 million and warned that, without continued local support and further cost reductions, the district’s annual shortfall could grow. Presenters said state property‑tax changes and a new requirement to share local property tax revenue with eligible charter schools will reduce ACS’s available revenue by millions over the next eight years.

The board’s resolution directs district officials to certify the referendum question to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance and the Madison County Auditor in the form required by law; if voters approve the renewal on Nov. 3, the district would continue to levy the referendum at the same local rate and apply the revenue to the adopted spending plan for operating costs.

Roll call on the motion to adopt the resolution recorded votes in favor from the trustees present and the motion passed unanimously. The board did not increase the referendum rate; it voted only to place the renewal question before voters. The question will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot and voters will decide whether to continue the local levy.

What comes next: the administration will submit the adopted resolution and required documentation to the DLGF and the Madison County Auditor; the measure will then be subject to the usual county and state review before it appears on the ballot.