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Brownsburg schools warn of deep cuts and ask RDC for TIF partnership to avoid referendum
Summary
Superintendent Kat Jessup told the Redevelopment Commission the district lost millions after recent state tax law changes and described cuts eliminating dozens of positions; she requested a program-based Tax Increment Financing (TIF) partnership and asked the RDC to consider up to the statutory 15% allocation to avoid an operating referendum.
Kat Jessup, superintendent of Brownsburg Community School Corporation, told the Redevelopment Commission that state legislation has sharply reduced the district’s flexible funds and forced immediate cuts.
“House Bill 1454 removed our ability to transfer approximately $3,500,000 yearly into operations,” Jessup said, and she described a drop in the operations fund from roughly $14.7 million in 2023 to about $7.1 million in 2026. She listed cuts already implemented — including elimination of recycling, reductions in custodial and maintenance staff, elimination of multiple administrative positions, and a net loss of roughly 49 positions — and said further cuts will be required if new revenue is not found.
Jessup outlined two approaches for a TIF partnership: an assessed-value pass-through or a program-based allocation tied to specific workforce and curricular programs. She said the school’s preferred option is a program-based partnership to fund Area 31 programs, Project Lead the Way, work-based learning/internships, the high school broadcasting program and business/marketing programs.
“We would respectfully request the entire 15%,” Jessup said, adding that the district hopes such a partnership could avoid placing an operating referendum before voters in November 2026. She also described a comprehensive program estimate — she stated a higher program package total of about $2,100,000 but emphasized the school would welcome any contribution that reduces the need for a referendum.
The school superintendent framed the request as a bridge while legislative remedies or other state funding are pursued. She said the district is already reducing classroom supports and that further cuts would affect teachers and programs that directly support students.
The commission pressed Jessup on details of the ask and the financial modeling; she reiterated that the district had examined every available revenue source and that the loss was driven by state-level statutory changes rather than local actions. The RDC asked staff for clarifying figures on what exactly constitutes the 15% calculation before making a final local funding determination.
The commission did not adopt a final funding number in this presentation; it moved on to staff analysis and public comment before action later in the meeting.
