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Ballot question

Michigan City Area Schools (Local Public Question)

On the ballot in
Michigan City Area Schools (LaPorte County)
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

SHALL THE MICHIGAN CITY AREA SCHOOLS INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES PAID TO THE SCHOOL CORPORATION FOR NO MORE THAN EIGHT (8) YEARS TO SUPPORT THE MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS (MCAS) INITIATIVE WHICH WILL SUSTAIN EDUCATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL FUNDING STABILITY IN RESPONSE TO REDUCTIONS IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BY RECRUITING AND RETAINING TEACHERS AND STAFF, SUPPORTING ESSENTIAL STUDENT HEALTH AND SAFETY INITIATIVES, AND MAINTAINING CLASS SIZES, ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY IMPOSING A PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT DOES NOT EXCEED $0.2998 AND RESULTS IN A MAXIMUM ANNUAL AMOUNT THAT DOES NOT EXCEED $0.2998 AND RESULTS IN A MAXIMUM ANNUAL AMOUNT THAT DOES NOT EXCEED $10,000,000. IF THIS OPERATING REFERENDUM PUBLIC QUESTIONS IS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, THE PROPERTY'S ANNUAL PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR A MEDIAN RESIDENCE OF $200,000 WOULD INCREASE BY $260 PER YEAR.

A “Yes” vote means

Michigan City Area Schools may levy up to $0.2998 per $100 of assessed value (no more than $10 million a year) for eight years for safety, academics, staff and transportation.

A “No” vote means

MCAS gets no operating referendum tax; the district says it would likely face decisions on staffing, programs, operations and possibly school consolidations sooner.

Official plain English statement

Michigan City Area Schools asks voters to approve an operating referendum tax of up to $0.2998 per $100 of assessed value, and no more than $10 million a year, for eight years (through 2034), for safety and security, academic programs and class sizes, and transportation and other student services. The district, which has no operating referendum now, estimates a $200,000 median home would pay about $260 more a year.

On the ballot as "MICHIGAN CITY AREA SCHOOLS" (Local Public Question), for voters in Michigan City Area Schools (LaPorte and Porter counties). The spending plan estimates $10,000,000 a year: $6.5 million for academic programs, $2 million for transportation and other educationally related programs, $1.5 million for safety and security. The ballot text repeats the clause "AND RESULTS IN A MAXIMUM ANNUAL AMOUNT THAT DOES NOT EXCEED $0.2998" and reads "PUBLIC QUESTIONS"; the DLGF-approved wording (July 2026) does not have these errors.

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.