Six years ago, Bartholomew County said yes — and BCSC delivered. Graduation rates climbed. Literacy scores rose. Great teachers stayed. Now we're asking you to keep it going, at the same tax rate and a lower overall cost, through 2034.
When Bartholomew County voters said yes in 2020, BCSC made six specific promises. Every single one has been kept — and then some. Here's what that yes vote made possible.
The best teacher your child ever had almost left for a higher-paying district. Referendum funding closed the gap. Staff retention is up more than 4 points since 2020 — because competitive pay means our best teachers stay here, in Bartholomew County.
IREAD passage rates jumped from 80% to 89% — and are projected to reach 91%. That's hundreds more Bartholomew County children entering 4th grade able to read independently, the single biggest predictor of long-term academic success.
Graduation rates rose from 81% to 92% — and are projected to reach 98%. Hundreds more young people each year earning a diploma and a real shot at the future. These aren't statistics. They're your neighbors' kids.
BCSC has 11 dedicated school safety personnel in place — 6 School Resource Officers and 5 School Safety Officers. Parents send their kids to school expecting them to be safe. This is how BCSC keeps that promise.
Every BCSC elementary school now has a dedicated STEM lab staffed by a certified educator. Whether or not your child becomes an engineer, hands-on problem-solving changes how kids think — for life.
Indiana schools faced a statewide bus driver shortage. BCSC used referendum resources to recruit, train, and retain qualified drivers — so every student gets to school safely, every day.
BCSC's 94% staff retention rate isn't an accident. Referendum funding supports competitive salaries that attract and keep great educators right here in Bartholomew County — the kind of teachers who know our kids by name and show up every day because they want to be here.
This isn't a new tax. It's a renewal of what you already approved in 2020 — at the exact same rate. And due to Indiana property tax reform, the total cost to Bartholomew County taxpayers is actually lower than what you're paying today.
Per $100 of assessed value — identical to what you approved in 2020. A renewal, not a raise.
The average annual levy is lower than what's collected today. Same results, better value.
Eight more years of momentum — great schools, stable and funded through 2034.
100% of referendum funds go directly to teachers and safety personnel serving students every single day.
If the referendum isn't renewed, the owner of a median-value home ($250,000) saves about $190 per year — roughly 52 cents a day. In exchange, BCSC loses $9–10 million annually. Here's what that trade actually looks like.
* Per the official ballot question, if this referendum is NOT approved, the property tax bill for a median residence of $250,000 would decrease by $190/year. Official language: "Shall Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation continue to increase property taxes paid to the school corporation for no more than eight (8) years for the purpose of funding and maintaining competitive compensation for teachers and staff and maintaining student safety by imposing a property tax rate that does not exceed $0.156 and results in a maximum annual amount that does not exceed $10.1M."
Three public steps stand between now and Election Day. Two are already done. One is coming — and then the decision is yours.
Superintendent Chad Phillips presented the results of the community survey — 63.3% support — and formally recommended renewing the operating referendum through 2034. Completed
The Board authorized BCSC to submit the proposed renewal to the Bartholomew County Auditor, who will calculate the exact dollar impact for a median-value home. Completed
The Board voted unanimously, 7–0, to take the first formal step toward placing the renewal on the November ballot, directing administration to move forward with the required legal process. Completed
The Board voted unanimously, 7–0, to officially certify the renewal question for the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. The decision is now in the hands of Bartholomew County voters. Completed
Every registered voter in the BCSC district of Bartholomew County gets a say. Find the question on your general election ballot and vote YES. Can't make it on Election Day? Early voting begins October 6 at the Bartholomew County Courthouse. Prefer to vote by mail? Absentee ballots can be requested through the Bartholomew County Clerk's office. Election Day
Think of it as a local top-up to state school funding. Indiana's state formula doesn't fully fund what it costs to run great schools — so districts like BCSC can ask local voters to fill the gap. An operating referendum covers day-to-day needs: teacher salaries, safety staff, and student programs. Unlike a bond, it cannot be spent on buildings or construction — every dollar goes to people and programs.
The 2020 referendum had a built-in expiration date — it doesn't renew automatically. BCSC has to come back to voters. Indiana law requires this vote to happen on a general election ballot in an even year, which makes November 2026 the right moment. Without a renewal, the funding simply stops when the current levy expires.
A "no" vote doesn't cut BCSC's funding immediately — the current 2020 referendum continues through 2028. But without a renewal in place, BCSC faces a hard cliff: losing $9–10 million per year when that levy expires. According to BCSC's own projections, the impact would include reductions in compensation for roughly 600 teachers and 1,000 classified staff, increased class sizes, growing difficulty recruiting and retaining staff, reduced investment in school safety, and cuts to programs and services students depend on every day.
No — and this is worth being clear about. The renewal locks in the same rate — $0.156 per $100 of assessed value — that voters already approved in 2020. Not a penny more. Due to Indiana property tax reform, the average annual cost over the 8-year renewal period is actually lower than what's being collected today on average.
Registered voters who live within the BCSC district boundaries in Bartholomew County are eligible to vote on this referendum. Note: residents of the Flatrock-Hawcreek School Corporation area — while also in Bartholomew County — are not in the BCSC district and will not have this question on their ballot. Not sure if you're in the BCSC district? Check your registration at IndianaVoters.in.gov.
In early 2026, BCSC partnered with School Perceptions to survey the community about the potential renewal. Of over 4,500 respondents, 63.3% indicated they would support renewing the operating referendum at a lower average total cost to taxpayers. Results were presented at the March 2, 2026 Board work session.
Referendums are decided by the people who show up. The students sitting in BCSC classrooms right now are counting on Bartholomew County voters to say yes again. Here's how you can make sure they do.
Make sure you're registered to vote in Bartholomew County before the November 3 general election.
Register at IndianaVoters.in.govDonate to the Yes for BCSC Political Action Committee and help fund outreach to Bartholomew County voters.
Donate to Yes for BCSC PACTalk to your neighbors, family, and coworkers about what the referendum has meant for BCSC students and teachers.
Share This PageVisit the official BCSC Referendum 2026 page for full documents, board meeting recordings, and additional resources.
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