Noblesville, Indiana School Referendum · Nov 3, 2026Strong schools don't need a blank check.
The Noblesville Schools operating referendum in Hamilton County, Indiana isn't a simple renewal. It raises the maximum school tax rate from 37¢ to 57¢ per $100 of assessed value — about 54% higher — and locks it in for eight years, through 2034. Vote NO on November 3.
What the Noblesville Schools referendum actually asks for
The 2018 operating referendum expires at the end of 2026. The district is asking voters for a new, larger one. Here is what the certified ballot question authorizes.
Up from today's 37¢ per $100 of assessed value. A true “continuation” would keep the rate where it is.
The longest term the district could ask for. A shorter or smaller request could have been revisited sooner.
The ballot authorizes up to $43,842,578 a year — roughly 75% more than the ~$25 million the district says it needs.
Sources: the certified ballot question and Noblesville Schools — Referendum 2026. Full citations at stopthenoblesvillereferendum.com.
What the Noblesville school referendum really costs: not $1.88 a month
You've heard the referendum costs “about $1.88 a month.” That figure is presented as an eight-year average, but it's the district calculator's final-year increase divided by eight. Averaged honestly across the same calculator's eight years, it's $8.19 a month, reaching $15.05 by 2034.
Measure only what's on the ballot — the rate going from 37¢ to 57¢ — and a $350,000 home pays about $19.43 a month, roughly $233 a year, once the full rate is reached. The ballot's own required estimate is $955 a year for a median $350,000 home compared with having no referendum at all.
MillerYes, the pro-referendum campaign, can't keep its own number straight: its home page says $1.88, while its FAQ still says $2.30, a figure the district dropped in August.
Put in your own assessed value and see for yourself:
Applies the homestead deductions Hamilton County actually uses. Method and sources →
Five reasons to vote NO on the Noblesville Schools referendum
1. It's a tax increase
“Continuation” is a marketing word. The maximum rate rises from 37¢ to 57¢.
2. The promise isn't on the ballot
The board's August 18 resolution pins only 2027 at 38.5¢, then caps each step at 4¢ a year — reaching 57¢ by 2032. A later board can rescind a resolution. Only voters can change the ballot.
3. The highest ask in the county
Carmel Clay: 42.74¢. Westfield Washington: 39.41¢. Hamilton Southeastern: 36¢. Noblesville: 57¢.
4. Accountability first
Before asking for more, the district should show where today's dollars go and what it cut first.
5. A NO vote isn't the end
A NO lets the district come back with a smaller rate or a shorter term — one that asks for what it needs, not the maximum.
Hamilton County, Indiana school referendums: four districts, one ballot
| School district | Maximum referendum rate (per $100 AV) |
|---|---|
| Noblesville Schools | 57¢ |
| Carmel Clay Schools | 42.74¢ |
| Westfield Washington Schools | 39.41¢ |
| Hamilton Southeastern Schools | 36¢ |
Certified ballot questions on file with the state. Side-by-side comparison →
Help Noblesville vote NO
Register & vote
Register by October 5. Early voting runs October 6 – November 2 at the Judicial Center and Fairgrounds in Noblesville.
Check registrationAsk questions
Superintendent Dr. Dan Hile is holding public meetings and office hours through October. Go, and ask.
Meeting scheduleFollow along
Updates, fact-checks, and corrections as the district revises its numbers.
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Referendums are decided by a handful of votes per precinct. Share this page.
We're not against schools or teachers. Noblesville has good schools, and a 2025 state law (SEA 1) squeezed every district in the county. Our point is narrower: an eight-year commitment to the maximum rate deserves more scrutiny than a yard-sign slogan. Read the district's case too — then decide.