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Smith-Green Community Schools Renewal of Referendum Tax Levy (Local Public Question)

On the ballot in
Smith-Green Community Schools
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Shall Smith-Green Community Schools continue to increase property taxes paid to the School Corporation for no more than eight (8) years for the purpose of funding and sustaining educational and operational funding stability in response to reductions in property tax revenue, maintaining health and safety initiatives, supporting and retaining teachers and staff, maintaining class sizes and transportation services, and funding academic and support programs to meet the educational needs of all students, while changing the current maximum operating referendum tax rate of $0.6280, by imposing a property tax rate that does not exceed $0.4988 and results in a maximum annual amount that does not exceed $2,176,300? If this operating referendum public question is NOT approved by the voters, for a median residence of $200,000, the property's annual property tax bill would decrease by $431 per year. If this operating referendum public question is approved by the voters, it would be a renewal of the most recent operating referendum public question passed in 2018 with a property tax rate of $0.6280.

A “Yes” vote means

Renews Smith-Green's operating referendum tax for 2027–2034 at no more than $0.4988 per $100 of assessed value (down from the 2018 maximum of $0.6280) and $2,176,300 a year.

A “No” vote means

The referendum tax voters approved in 2018 is not renewed; the ballot estimates the tax bill on a $200,000 median home would fall by $431 a year.

Official plain English statement

Smith-Green Community Schools asks voters to renew the operating referendum property tax they approved in 2018 (up to $0.6280 per $100 of assessed value), at a lower maximum rate of $0.4988 and no more than $2,176,300 a year, for 2027 through 2034. The district's spending plan puts about $1.13 million a year (52%) toward retaining teachers and staff and maintaining class sizes, and about $348,000 (16%) each toward health and safety, transportation, and academic and support programs.

On the ballot as "SMITH-GREEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS RENEWAL OF REFERENDUM TAX LEVY" (Local Public Question), for voters in Smith-Green Community Schools (Whitley and Noble counties). The school board adopted the renewal resolution and revenue spending plan on July 13, 2026, and the Department of Local Government Finance approved the ballot wording in July 2026 (No. 26-042-REF); the Noble and Whitley County auditors certified the $200,000 median home value. The resolution says voters approved the 2018 levy at up to $0.628 for eight years.

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.