SchoolsWednesday, November 4
Carmel voters approve the Carmel Clay Schools referendum with 58 percent
The Daily Carmel team
Carmel voters approved the Carmel Clay Schools referendum Tuesday, according to unofficial results. It combines and replaces the existing school safety and operating referendums.
Carmel's referendum passed with a maximum rate of 42.74 cents
- 58%
- voted yes, in unofficial results
- 42.74 cents
- maximum rate per $100 of assessed value, up from 24 cents
- $10 million
- at least in 2027 cuts, CCS said, if it had failed
Source: Current Publishing
Carmel wasn't alone on the ballot. Indiana voters faced a historic 37 operating school referendums, and the crunch stems from Senate Enrolled Act 1, a 2025 law that will reduce property tax revenue for school districts.
- Indianapolis: about 63% yes, with 91% of vote centers reporting
- IPS rate: 37.2 cents per $100, replacing an expiring 19.6 cents
- Roughly $105 more a year on a $150,000 home in IPS
- Decatur Township: voters appear to have rejected theirs, 53% against
The biggest result in Indianapolis: voters appear to have passed a tax increase from the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation, estimated to generate $95 million for IPS and roughly 60 charter schools. IPS officials say they still need to cut an extra $20 million for 2027-28.
Sources: Current Publishing, IndyStar, WFYI