Ballot question
MSD of Decatur Township Referendum (Local Public Question)
- On the ballot in
- MSD of Decatur Township Referendum (Marion County)
- Vote
- Yes or no
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
The question, as printed on the ballot
Shall the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township increase property taxes paid to the school corporation for no more than eight (8) years for the purpose of funding the #Decatur Community and School Improvement Program by (1) repealing the existing referendum fund tax levy with a new referendum fund tax levy approved by the voters in 2019, and (2) replacing the existing referendum fund tax levy with a new referendum fund tax levy which will provide funding for student transportation, utility expenses, school safety and security programs, building maintenance and support services by imposing a property tax rate that does not exceed $0.2690 and results in a maximum annual amount that does not exceed $9,000,000. If this operating referendum public question is approved by the voters, for a median residence of $250,000, the property's annual property tax bill would increase by $306 per year. The most recent operating referendum public question proposed by the school corporation was held in 2019 and passed.
A “Yes” vote means
Replaces Decatur Township schools' current referendum tax with a new levy for 2027–2034 of up to $0.2690 per $100 of assessed value (up to $9 million a year).
A “No” vote means
No new levy is approved; the district's current referendum tax, approved in 2019, stays in effect until it expires on December 31, 2027.
Official plain English statement
MSD of Decatur Township asks voters to replace its current operating referendum tax, approved in 2019 and set to expire at the end of 2027, with a new one for 2027–2034 at a maximum rate of $0.2690 per $100 of assessed value (up to $9 million a year). The money would pay for student transportation, utilities, school safety and security (including three school resource officers), building maintenance and support services; the district says the replacement has a lower maximum rate than the current levy and is not an additional tax.
On the ballot as "MSD OF DECATUR TOWNSHIP REFERENDUM" (Local Public Question), for voters in the MSD of Decatur Township. The current levy (approved in May 2019 for student transportation, safety, maintenance and electricity) had a maximum rate of $0.2890; the district says it now levies $0.2277 and that the current levy stays in effect through December 31, 2027 if this question fails.
Sources
- Who and What Is on My Ballot: the official ballot of every precinct, 2026 General Election · Indiana Election Division (Indiana Voter Portal)
- 2026 MSD Decatur Township Operating Referendum: Reduce & Replace (Update Center) · Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township
- Resolution Regarding Replacement of the 2020 Operating Referendum Tax Levy Fund · Board of Education, Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township
- Exhibit A: Revenue Spending Plan (transportation $4.3 million, utilities $2.05 million, safety $825,000, maintenance $900,000, support services $250,000) · Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township
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.