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We are a diverse community of families, students, and staff who take pride in our schools, contribute positively to society, and prepare students for lifelong success.

An Operating Referendum allows a school district to ask voters to approve additional local property tax funding to support its day-to-day operations. These funds can help support staffing, educational programs, transportation, student services, and school safety.

The district has continued operating within its available resources, making reductions and adjustments to manage rising costs and changing federal and state funding levels.

The proposed 2026 Operating Referendum is a new request for local funding, not a renewal or replacement of an existing referendum.

If approved, the referendum would authorize funding for up to eight years. The maximum proposed rate is $0.2998 per $100 of assessed property value. The MCAS Board of School Trustees would determine the actual rate each year, which may be lower than the maximum.

Like thirty-eight (38) school districts across Indiana, MCAS faces financial challenges due to changes in federal and state funding, property tax caps, declining student enrollment, and rising operating costs.

Recent legislation, including Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA-1), has created additional financial pressures. Due to the State action, MCAS projects approximately $2.56 million in reduced revenue over the next three years.

Yes. MCAS has already reduced district expenditures by more than $2 million through staffing adjustments, operational efficiencies, delayed purchases, and other cost-saving measures.

Despite these efforts, ongoing financial pressures continue to affect the district's ability to maintain existing essential programs and services.

The ballot includes an estimated annual property tax increase of $260 for a median residence with a value of $200,000. However, this is a state-required example based on the maximum referendum rate, not a fixed amount every homeowner would pay.

After factoring in property tax relief under SEA-1, MCAS estimates a total net impact of approximately $48 over the entire eight-year term for the example median homestead, averaging about $0.50 per month.

Actual amounts will vary based on property assessments, deductions, tax caps, and future rates. To determine your investment, visit EducateMC.net/Calculator.

Indiana law requires the ballot to include an estimated tax impact using a state-defined calculation. The $200,000 home value shown is a rounded figure used for this example and does not represent every homeowner's property value.

The ballot estimate also does not reflect the projected homeowner tax relief under SEA-1.

Use the MCAS Referendum Investment Calculator to explore the estimated impact for your property.

If approved, the referendum would provide additional funding to help MCAS maintain educational programs, transportation, school safety, and student support services.

Referendum funds would be managed through the district's established financial oversight processes, including annual budgeting, public School Board meetings, and financial reporting.

The MCAS Board of School Trustees would set the referendum tax rate annually, within the voter-approved maximum. The Indiana State Board of Accounts would provide additional oversight.

If the referendum is not approved, MCAS would continue operating within its available funding and would need to consider additional reductions to address ongoing financial challenges.

Potential reductions could affect elementary athletics and extracurricular opportunities, transportation services, staffing, and student programs. The district may also need to consider changes to building utilization, including possible school closures.

Any decisions would require public input and further review and action by the MCAS Board of School Trustees.

In the 9th episode of Making Sense of School Finance, Wynni sits down with Superintendent Dr. Wendel McCollum to answer one final question: What Happens Next?

All 9 episodes of Making Sense of School Finance are now available to watch! We encourage our families, staff, and community members to explore the full series to better understand school finance and the factors shaping the future of MCAS.

Early voting is underway. Eligible voters can review their registration status, find voting locations, and learn more about voting requirements through Indiana's voter information website.

School finance can be complicated. That's why we're breaking it down. Throughout the nine-episode series, MCAS Communication Intern Wynni sits down with our Chief Financial Officer, Andy Sperling, to explain how school funding works, where district dollars go, and the financial challenges facing MCAS.

From staffing and transportation to utilities, technology, building maintenance, and student safety, the series explores the everyday costs of operating our schools. It also explains how student enrollment, changes in school funding, and property tax caps affect school finances, along with information about the proposed Operating Referendum.

Pictured (L-R): Vera Gaston, Jacqueline Allison, Jenilee Peterson, Marty Corley (Board President), Tom Dombkowski (Board Vice President), Michael Gresham, James Stewart.

At Michigan City Area Schools, we are more than a district… we are One City. One Pack. Watch the video above to learn more!