2026 Referendum
Strong Schools. Strong Community.
Thank you for your support of Zionsville Community Schools (ZCS) and for being part of a community that values public education and the opportunities students have each day. Our ZCS schools are filled with learning, growth, creativity, connection, and belonging as students explore new ideas, build friendships, discover passions, and prepare for the future.
Zionsville Community Schools is made stronger by the community and the people who help shape these experiences each day. Thank you to our students, staff members, families, community members, and local business owners who support our schools.
Below, ZCS Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Coffman shares about the importance of our schools, the strength of our community, and the continued impact of the learning experiences taking place across ZCS.
Dear Zionsville Community Schools Family and Community Members:
Thank you for your ongoing support of Zionsville Community Schools. We have been engaged in a lengthy process of reviewing the district’s financial outlook and the impact of recent legislative changes on school funding. At the center of that conversation has been Senate Enrolled Act 1 (2025), and what it means for Zionsville Community Schools moving forward.
While it is expected that home values will continue to rise, the way those values are used to generate school funding is dramatically changing. Adjustments to the state’s property tax deduction and credit schedules are reducing the taxable value of residential properties.
In simple terms, homes may be worth more, but the revenue schools receive from those homes is expected to decrease.
That shift creates long-term pressure on the district’s ability to sustain current programming and staffing levels.
The Role of the Operating Referendum
ZCS continues to be the lowest funded school district in the state of Indiana on a per pupil basis. This is a key reason why the use of an operating referendum as a funding mechanism is essential.
Zionsville Community Schools has utilized an operating referendum since 2012 as a way to supplement state funding and maintain the level of programming and service that families have come to expect. The current referendum, approved by the community in 2019, is set to expire in December 2027.
Today, 100 percent of ZCS Operating Referendum funding supports teacher salaries and benefits.
The current Operating Referendum provides funding for approximately one in three teachers in Zionsville Community Schools.
In ZCS, the Operating Referendum is a complement to the Education Fund. It is a foundational part of how the district serves students.
Maintaining that stability is directly tied to maintaining class sizes, academic programming, and student support systems.
What Has Changed
Senate Enrolled Act 1 did more than impact revenue. It also changed how and when school districts can ask their communities to consider a referendum.
Additionally, moving forward, referendum questions:
- Can only appear on general election ballots in November of even-numbered years
- Are limited to a maximum duration of eight years
- Must include the maximum possible tax rate and maximum levy over the life of the referendum
- Must present the estimated financial impact to taxpayers
That final requirement introduces a new level of complexity.
The impact must be calculated as if no referendum currently exists. For a community like ZCS, which has had an operating referendum in place since 2012, that means the number presented may appear significantly higher than what residents will experience.
This creates a communication challenge. The number required to be listed in the ballot question will not reflect a continuation of what is already in place. It will reflect a scenario as if the referendum had never existed.
Timing Matters
These legislative changes also affect timing. Because the current operating referendum expires in December 2027, and referendum questions can only be placed on ballots in even-numbered years, the district does not have the option to wait until 2028 to seek renewal.
That window would come too late. As a result, district leadership shared that it is prudent to pursue an operating referendum in November 2026. This timing ensures continuity and avoids a potential gap in funding that would directly impact staffing and programming.
Planning with Purpose
As the district looks ahead, the approach is structured around careful planning and responsible stewardship.
Financial planning includes maintaining a healthy balance in the operating referendum fund, allowing the district to maintain programs and staff throughout an entire school year, rather than making adjustments in December at the end of a calendar year. At the same time, leadership is closely monitoring the variables that drive school funding, including assessed value, tax rates, and overall revenue projections.
What's Next
The ZCS Board of School Trustees has voted to include an operating referendum question in the November 2026 election. A tax calculator is provided on this page. Please contact my office or Regina May, Chief Financial Officer, with any questions.
Dr. Rebecca Coffman
ZCS Superintendent