On November 3, 2026, voters who live within IPS boundaries will see an operational referendum on their ballots, WISH-TV reports.
A headline by James Briggs in The Indianapolis Star describes a messaging fight between IPS and charter schools ahead of the vote. It does not explain what the referendum would fund or change, or what claims each side is making.
What the referendum would fund
If voters approve the measure, it would raise $95 million a year for four years. The Indianapolis Business Journal reports that IPS and participating charter schools would share the money, with each school's allocation tied to the number of students who live within IPS boundaries.
For a home valued at $150,000, the ballot lists a $221 annual tax increase. IPS estimates the net additional cost at about $115 a year, or roughly $9 a month, because the new levy would replace the existing 2018 referendum tax.
IPS expects to cut about $20 million a year from its budget even if the referendum passes. If voters reject it, the district projects annual cuts of up to $45 million. Superintendent Aleesia Johnson says the funding is needed to keep staff and teacher pay competitive and support special education and English-language learning programs. She has warned that a failed referendum could bring deeper cuts, fewer teachers and school closures.
The ballot measure covers four years of operating costs for IPS and participating charter schools. The budget outlook changes depending on the result, but even approval would not prevent all cuts.
The referendum comes as Indianapolis reorganizes oversight of its public-school system. The Indianapolis Public Education Corporation is expected to coordinate decisions on buildings and transportation, set tax rates, and establish common rules for district and charter schools; the full transfer of operational functions is planned for 2028.
School oversight is also changing
The planned governance shift adds another question to the debate. The Indianapolis Public Education Corporation, or IPEC, is expected to coordinate decisions involving IPS and charter schools as it takes on new responsibilities. The full transfer of operational functions is planned for 2028.
