Bus Transportation, Student Programs, Safety & Security: 

All the recent construction projects were properly planned and budgeted in 2022 without raising taxes — before the April 2025 changes in property tax funding. Short- and long-term plans were carefully executed — again, before the recent changes in school funding. 

Construction projects and district-wide improvements were scheduled according to the district’s long-range facility plan and were financed through the debt service fund with bonds, which function like a mortgage. By law, the funds raised in debt service to pay for those mortgages cannot be used for salaries or day-to-day educational costs of running the school district. 

Construction projects were initiated to meet the then-current and future needs of the school district. Multiple subdivisions were being built and thus preparing for possible increases in student enrollment. Furniture, carpeting, and paint were in need of replacement after 20-30+ years, and aspects of the high school athletic facilities were on the verge of dilapidation.  Furthermore, cost-saving measures were included in the bonding for the installation of LED lighting at the two largest schools, Lowell Intermediate/Middle School and Lowell High School, as a means to save money and get a return on investment within a short amount of time. 

Again, there was no tax rate increase for the projects. The bond payments were planned to begin as the debt from the 2005 Lowell High School renovation was paid off to prevent any increases in taxes.

Without the referendum, the district faces a reduction of over $2.6 million in property tax revenue by 2030. To meet our financial obligations and make payroll, we would have to implement severe budget cuts. Unfortunately, this means major operational changes — such as dismantling our bus transportation system — would have to be seriously considered.

This vote is strictly about maintaining daily operations. If the referendum fails, the district will face severe funding gaps, directly threatening three critical areas:

Bus Transportation: Standard school bus routes, fleet maintenance, and driver logistics across the corporation will be directly compromised.

Student Programs: Essential academic opportunities, extracurricular activities, and elective programs will face phased elimination over the next three years.

School Safety and Security: Funding for security personnel, secure facilities, and active protective infrastructure will be heavily reduced.

While the district already operates on a standard device replacement schedule, we seized a unique opportunity to maximize taxpayer dollars while meeting requirements due to changes in the Indiana legislative code. By purchasing the new 1:1 devices for grades 5 through 12 all at once, we successfully negotiated bulk credits and pricing with Apple — saving the district over $200,000 compared to a staggered rollout. The technology refresh was funded through a combination of revenue from selling retired devices, a technology Common School Fund loan (technology-specific loan from the state,1% interest for 5 years), and bond funds budgeted for technology purchases. 

Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1) is a 2025 Indiana law that overhauls aspects of the state’s property tax and local tax systems.

SEA 1 changes homestead deductions, reshapes Local Income Tax (LIT) distribution, adjusts business personal property rules, and places new limits on certain local levies.

SEA 1 changes how property tax burdens and local revenue flows are calculated and distributed, which can affect school funding, municipal budgets, and homeowner tax bills.

For Tri-Creek School Corporation, the impact of SEA 1 is compounded by the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts in Lowell, which already limit the growth of the district’s taxable assessed value. Together, SEA 1 and local TIFs have significantly reduced Operations Fund revenue for Tri-Creek — a fund that was already well below the state average on a per-student basis.  Tri-Creek will lose $2,000,000 to over $2,600,000 a year in property tax funding from 2026 to 2031, as shown in this Tri-Creek School Corporation Reduction in Property Tax chart. 

This means that without additional local support through an operating referendum, the district will face increasing challenges to maintain transportation, student programs, and school safety.

2023 was about expansion: The previous referendum aimed to fund competitive staff salaries, expand student programs, and add preschool. When voters rejected it, the district listened—balancing the budget by cutting department spending and eliminating over 30 positions.

2026 is about stability: This upcoming referendum is a new, emergency measure to replace the property tax funding lost from Senate Enrolled Act 1.

What is at risk?  This vote is strictly about maintaining daily operations. If the referendum fails, the district will face severe funding gaps, directly threatening three critical areas:

Bus Transportation: Standard school bus routes, fleet maintenance, and driver logistics across the corporation will be directly compromised.

Student Programs: Essential academic opportunities, extracurricular activities, and elective programs will face phased elimination over the next three years.

School Safety and Security: Funding for security personnel, secure facilities, and active protective infrastructure will be heavily reduced.

Tri-Creek School Corporation works hard to be responsible with taxpayer dollars and to stretch every dollar as far as possible. 

• Conducts regular budget reviews to identify inefficiencies
• Closely evaluates staffing levels and adjusts through attrition
• Utilizes shared services and cooperative purchase whenever possible
• Maximize grant funding and alternative revenue sources

We also renegotiate contracts, invest in energy-saving improvements such as LED and solar, and pursue grants and outside funding when available. 

Even as costs like utilities, insurance, and state-required expenses continue to rise, such as transportation, the district focuses on making smart financial decisions that protect classrooms and support students without unnecessary spending.

Over the past three years, Tri-Creek School Corporation has cut over 30 staff positions and slashed department budgets.

Short answer: It goes back into the developments, not to our schools or town services.

• The TIF Setup: The Town of Lowell designated these eight active subdivisions as Residential TIF (Tax Increment Financing) Districts.
• The Tax Freeze: Tri-Creek Schools and local taxing units (townships, library, etc.) only receive taxes based on what the land was worth before the houses were built.
• The New Revenue: All new tax growth generated by these new homes is locked into a TIF fund for 20+ years to support the development's infrastructure.
• The Impact on Schools: The school district does not receive a single dollar of the new tax revenue generated by these subdivisions to help cover the cost of educating new students.