01
It assumes a $400,000 home.
Every dollar figure on the ballot is based on a $400,000 home value — not necessarily yours.
The November referendum
The referendum, in plain language.
This November, Hamilton Southeastern voters will decide on a school funding referendum. The way the question is written on the ballot makes it look like a much bigger tax increase than it actually is. Here’s what’s really going on — and why I’m voting yes.
Where I stand
I fully support the referendum.
No one moves to Fishers for the beaches or the mountains. Mayor Fadness and our elected officials have done a remarkable job turning Fishers into a wonderful place to live — but it’s the Hamilton Southeastern school system that brings people here. If our schools falter, the desire to call Fishers home fades with them. And when fewer people want to live here, property values fall and local businesses feel it too.
The referendum is presented as a tax. In reality, it’s an investment in our schools — and in our homes, our businesses, our parks, our entertainment, and the overall quality of life we all share.
Why now
A new referendum to replace the current one.
Indiana’s legislature recently cut property tax revenue. That lowers the property tax bill for homeowners — which sounds good — but it also cuts the funding our public schools depend on. The new referendum on the November ballot is meant to replace the funding the state took away.
One point that gets lost: the new referendum replaces the current one. It is not added on top of it. The existing referendum goes away, and the new one takes its place.
Read the fine print
Why the ballot makes it look bigger than it is.
The single biggest hurdle to passing this referendum is the language the State of Indiana puts on the ballot. It’s technically accurate, but it’s written in a way that makes the cost look far larger than what you’ll actually pay. Three things to know:
02
It quotes the maximum possible rate.
The ballot shows the highest rate the school board could ever set — not the rate that will actually be proposed, which is much lower.
03
It ignores the referendum you already pay.
The ballot language never tells you the new referendum replaces the one you're already paying. It reads as a brand-new tax on top of today's bill. It isn't.
The numbers
What it actually costs, on a $400,000 home.
What you pay today
$405 / yr
The current referendum.
What you'd likely pay
$445 / yr
About $40 more than today.
The ballot's worst-case number
$700 / yr
The maximum rate — what the ballot describes.
Your real worst case
+$295
Even at the maximum rate, because the $405 you pay now goes away.
Because the ballot ignores the $405 you already pay, it can describe the new referendum as roughly a $700 increase. But you won’t be paying $405 and $700 — the old referendum is replaced. So even in the worst case, at the highest rate the board could ever set, you’d pay about $295 more than today. The realistic figure is closer to $40 a year.
“The referendum is presented as a tax. In reality, it’s an investment in our schools — and in our homes, our businesses, and the quality of life we all share.”
Confidence in our leadership
The right people are in place.
In 18 years of having kids in this district and being deeply involved, I have never been more confident in the leadership we have in place. I believe our new Superintendent, Dr. Kegley, is the right person to lead HSE. He has been with the district for many years, his own children graduated from HSE, and he will put the best interest of Hamilton Southeastern at the center of every decision he makes.
If I’m fortunate enough to be elected to the board, I can promise you this: I will be informed and engaged, and I will work to keep Hamilton Southeastern one of the best school systems in Indiana — and in the country.
Get involved
There are many ways to help.
Have an hour? Knock five doors with Greg. Have a kitchen? Host a coffee. Have a yard? Take a sign. Campaigns are built by neighbors, one favor at a time.