Ballot question

Indianapolis Public Education Corporation Referendum (Local Public Question)

On the ballot in: Indianapolis Public Education Corporation Referendum (Marion County)
Vote: Yes or no
Election: Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Shall the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation increase property taxes paid to the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and participating charter schools for no more than four (4) years for the purpose of funding teacher and staff retention, professional development, and advancing academic programs and opportunities by imposing a property tax rate that does not exceed $0.372 per $100 of assessed value and results in a maximum annual amount that does not exceed $95, 000,000? If this operating referendum public question is approved by the voters, for a median residence of $150,000, the property's annual property tax bill would increase by $221 per year.

A “Yes” vote means

Approves an operating tax of up to $0.372 per $100 of assessed value (up to $95 million a year) for 2027–2030, shared by IPS and participating charter schools; it replaces IPS's expiring 2018 levy.

A “No” vote means

No new referendum tax is levied; IPS's 2018 operating referendum tax of $0.196 per $100 of assessed value still ends in December 2026.

Official plain English statement

The Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC), which state law now lets seek referendum taxes inside the IPS boundary, asks voters there to approve an operating property tax of up to $0.372 per $100 of assessed value for 2027–2030, raising up to $95 million a year to be shared by IPS and participating public charter schools for staff retention, professional development and academic programs. It would replace IPS's 2018 operating referendum tax of $0.196, which ends in December 2026; IPS estimates a $150,000 home would pay about $115 a year more than it pays for that levy now.

On the ballot as "INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC EDUCATION CORPORATION REFERENDUM" (Local Public Question), for voters inside the IPS boundary. The Voter Portal's ballot text prints the maximum as "$95, 000,000"; the DLGF-approved wording reads $95,000,000. IPS says the four-year tax would replace its 2018 operating referendum ($0.196), which expires at the end of 2026, and that the revenue is split between IPS and public charter schools serving students who live in the boundary.

Sources

Who and What Is on My Ballot: the official ballot of every precinct, 2026 General Election · Indiana Election Division (Indiana Voter Portal)
Findings and Final Determination on Proposed Question, No. 26-029-REF (Indianapolis Public Education Corporation, Marion County) · Indiana Department of Local Government Finance
Resolution 13-2026: Resolution Approving the Presentation of a Referendum Levy Question to Voters (adopted June 22, 2026) · Indianapolis Public Education Corporation Board
Exhibit A: 2027 Operating Referendum Tax Levy Fund Revenue Spending Plan ($32.3 million staff retention and professional development; $62.7 million academic programs) · Indianapolis Public Education Corporation
2026 Operating Referendum (what it funds, cost to taxpayers, FAQs) · Indianapolis Public Schools

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.