Voters choose to renew Hamilton Southeastern Schools referendum

Submitted by HSE Schools

Voters approved Hamilton Southeastern Schools’ replacement operating referendum on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with more than 58 percent voting in favor, according to unofficial election results. The funding will help support teacher salaries and benefits, school safety, and student behavioral health services.

Kegley

“I want to thank the community for their continued support for this referendum and the people who make our schools what they are,” Superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley said. “This funding helps us keep experienced teachers in our classrooms and provide the services our students need. We appreciate the trust our community has placed in us.”

The measure replaces the operating referendum approved in 2023. HSE sought the replacement referendum to help offset projected revenue losses from changes to Indiana property tax law, estimated at more than $45 million over the remaining six years of the existing referendum. The district has also identified more than $7 million in ongoing cost reductions through staffing adjustments, operational efficiencies, and contract reviews.

The replacement referendum authorizes a maximum tax rate of $0.36 per $100 of assessed property value over eight years. The Board of School Trustees will set the actual rate and approve a spending plan each year through the public budget process.

“Our voters are owed a democratic vote in how their tax dollars support HSE Schools, and we are grateful for their trust,” School Board President Tiffany Pascoe said. “That trust comes with great responsibility for this board, future boards, and our administration to use these dollars carefully and as promised. It also means keeping our staff and stakeholders proactively informed along the way. This is an opportunity to strengthen trust and show it through our actions.”

HSE Schools is grateful for the countless volunteers who gave their time and resources to the effort, including Advance HSE, the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association, staff, families, and community members from across the district.

“People spent evenings and weekends talking with neighbors, answering questions and explaining why this mattered to our schools,” Kegley said. “We are thankful for the work they put into helping voters understand the proposal.”

Referendum information and financial reports are available at hseschools.org/finances.