Voters Pass Property Tax Hikes for 3 Indiana School Districts

Three Indianapolis-area schools won voter approval Tuesday for higher property taxes to shore up finances hit hard by the state's property tax cap and other funding fluxes.

 

The victories were overwhelming for Decatur Township schools in Marion County and Eminence Community Schools in Morgan County. But the referendum for Mount Vernon Community Schools in Hancock County passed by a thin 10-vote margin.

 

Eminence faced the dire consequence of closing its doors after next year if the referendum failed. Instead, 87 percent of the vote in the small farming community backed the tax hike, said Superintendent Terry Terhune.

 

That's the highest percentage of "yes" votes for a school referendum since they were first allowed in 2008.