Zionsville seeks $21.4M referendum to replace current levies, fund one-third of teachers’ salaries

Zionsville Community Schools told Current Publishing it plans a referendum that would replace the district’s current operating and safety referendums. The district said the ballot will list a $21.4 million figure, a maximum tax rate and an average financial impact of $1,368 per year for a home assessed at $600,000; officials also said because residents have paid referendums for several years the actual increase would be about $7 per year.

District leaders told Current Publishing the referendum revenue is planned to support salaries for roughly one‑third of ZCS teaching staff and warned a failed referendum would likely force significant cuts affecting student learning. At the State of the Schools address speakers highlighted IREAD rates, internships (including two recent high‑school students who worked in the bus barn and now study aeronautical engineering and aviation mechanics in college) and directed readers to the district’s tax calculator at zcs.k12.in.us/referendum-2026/tax-calculator.

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