What happens if the referendum fails?
If a majority of the voters oppose the operating referendum, Hamilton Southeastern Schools (HSE) will not have the funding necessary to retain teachers, keep class sizes low and provide the curriculum offerings the students need. Voters only need to look at the problems other school districts like Elkhart Community Schools have experienced after their referendum failed to renew.
The referendum accounts for approximately 14 percent of HSE Schools’ overall budget. Budget cuts would have to be made in critical areas. Without the referendum and the flexibility it provides in funding, class sizes will increase. In addition to larger class sizes this will also mean fewer opportunities for students due to less funding for academic, educational, and extracurricular programs. Voting “YES”’ means HSE Schools will continue to receive adequate, stable funding.
If the referendum does not pass on November 7, another public question on the same or substantially similar referendum may not be submitted to the voters earlier than two years after the date of the election without a petition of voters to allow it in one year. Without that petition, the earliest the referendum could be presented would be the November 2025 election. However, the Indiana General Assembly has considered legislation during recent sessions that would prevent school districts from conducting a referendum in a non- election year. If such legislation were to be passed and signed into law in an upcoming legislative session, HSE would not be able to conduct a referendum until 2026, and therefore would not receive the critical referendum funding until January 2027.