What does a YES vote on Noblesville Schools mean?

Noblesville Schools would raise property taxes for up to eight years, at a rate of up to $0.57 and no more than $43,842,578 a year, to fund safety and security in all buildings and academic programs; a median $350,000 home's yearly tax bill would rise by $955.

What does a NO vote on Noblesville Schools mean?

Noblesville Schools would not raise property taxes for this purpose.

Would my taxes go up $955?

$955 is the official ballot figure for a $350,000 median home at the full 57-cent rate, with no existing referendum counted. The district says it does not plan to take the full rate, has announced a 2027 rate of 38.5 cents, and estimates the average increase for a $350,000 home at about $1.88 a month over the eight years, depending on individual tax situations.

The 2018 referendum would expire at the end of 2026. The district says it cannot absorb losing about $25 million a year and lists possible cuts including about 20% of staff (such as 145 teachers), fewer school resource officers and counselors, reduced programs, and closing an elementary school.

Can the money be used for buildings or sports facilities?

No. The district says referendum money cannot be used for buildings, athletic facilities, construction or debt repayment.

How many votes does Noblesville Schools need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Noblesville Schools?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Noblesville Schools — Operating Referendum (Hamilton County)

Last updated Sat, Nov 7, 3:09 PM ET

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Noblesville Schools school district voters

What it does: Shall Noblesville Schools increase property taxes paid to the school corporation for no more than eight (8) years for the purpose of funding safety and security measures in all buildings and maintaining and enhancing academic and educationally-related programs in response to reductions in property tax revenue by imposing a property tax rate that does not exceed $0.57 and results in a maximum annual amount that does not exceed $43,842,578. If this operating referendum public question is approved by the voters, for a median residence of $350,000, the property's annual property tax bill would increase by $955 per year.
A YES vote means: Noblesville Schools would raise property taxes for up to eight years, at a rate of up to $0.57 and no more than $43,842,578 a year, to fund safety and security in all buildings and academic programs; a median $350,000 home's yearly tax bill would rise by $955.
A NO vote means: Noblesville Schools would not raise property taxes for this purpose.
Needed to pass: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean: Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Explained

Today

Noblesville Schools has had operating referendums for 16 years. The current one, approved by voters in 2018, is 37 cents per $100 of net assessed value and expires at the end of 2026.
The district says it brings in about $25 million a year, roughly 20% of its operating budget.
Indiana's Senate Enrolled Act 1 adds property tax relief for homeowners, which the district says reduces what a referendum rate raises.

If it passes

The district could levy a new operating referendum tax for up to eight years (through 2034) at a rate of no more than 57 cents per $100 of assessed value, capped at $43,842,578 a year.
The ballot lists the purposes as safety and security measures in all buildings and maintaining and enhancing academic and educationally related programs.
The district says the money would continue current programs and staffing (STEM and career programs, teacher recruitment and retention, school safety, mental health services, extracurriculars, class sizes); referendum money cannot be used for buildings, athletic facilities, construction or debt.

Example

The Hamilton County Auditor's certification for the ballot: the median home's gross assessed value ($335,800) is rounded up to $350,000; after the $40,000 standard deduction and $142,600 supplemental deduction, net assessed value is $167,400; at the maximum 57-cent rate the referendum tax is $954.18, rounded to $955 a year. State law requires this figure to count the full rate, without subtracting the expiring 2018 referendum tax. (source)

Who would notice

Property owners in the Noblesville Schools district, who pay the referendum tax, and the district's students and employees.

How it got here

The current 2018 referendum expires at the end of 2026. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously on June 9, 2026 to put a new operating referendum on the ballot, and Indiana's Department of Local Government Finance approved the wording on June 22, 2026. The district cites Senate Enrolled Act 1, its position in the bottom 6% of the state school funding formula, and $41.5 million lost to property tax caps from 2015 to 2025.

In the news

Noblesville Schools seeks community referendum vote · Current in Noblesville, 2026-06-14

Written by SpectrumVote from 4 linked sources (1, 2, 3, 4). Arguments are each side's own, not ours; the official text is what you vote on.

Background

Noblesville Schools says its 2018 operating referendum, which provides about $25 million a year or about 20% of the operating budget, expires at the end of 2026. It says this question would continue that funding.

The district says the current rate is 37 cents per $100 of assessed value. It says the proposed maximum of 57 cents is higher because the state's SEA1 property tax law reduces school funding, and that it has announced a 38.5-cent rate for 2027.

The district estimates the maximum rate would mean an average increase of about $1.88 a month for a $350,000 home over what owners pay now.

Current in Noblesville reported that the Board of Trustees voted unanimously on June 9, 2026 to put the referendum on the ballot. The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance received the resolution on June 10 and approved the ballot language.

Put on the ballot by Noblesville Schools Board of Trustees, unanimous, June 9, 2026 (as reported by Current in Noblesville; resolution filed with the DLGF June 10).

From official source 1, official source 2.

In the news

Noblesville Schools seeks community referendum vote · Current in Noblesville

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Noblesville Schools mean?: Noblesville Schools would raise property taxes for up to eight years, at a rate of up to $0.57 and no more than $43,842,578 a year, to fund safety and security in all buildings and academic programs; a median $350,000 home's yearly tax bill would rise by $955.
What does a NO vote on Noblesville Schools mean?: Noblesville Schools would not raise property taxes for this purpose.
Would my taxes go up $955?: $955 is the official ballot figure for a $350,000 median home at the full 57-cent rate, with no existing referendum counted. The district says it does not plan to take the full rate, has announced a 2027 rate of 38.5 cents, and estimates the average increase for a $350,000 home at about $1.88 a month over the eight years, depending on individual tax situations.
What if it fails?: The 2018 referendum would expire at the end of 2026. The district says it cannot absorb losing about $25 million a year and lists possible cuts including about 20% of staff (such as 145 teachers), fewer school resource officers and counselors, reduced programs, and closing an elementary school.
Can the money be used for buildings or sports facilities?: No. The district says referendum money cannot be used for buildings, athletic facilities, construction or debt repayment.
How many votes does Noblesville Schools need to pass?: A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Noblesville Schools?: SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?: The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Hamilton County ballot.

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