Make wishtv.com your home page

Hamilton County voters react to HSE, Noblesville school referendum vote

NOBLESVILLE, Ind (WISH) – Voters in two Hamilton County communities agreed to pay more in property taxes to help area schools.

Both the Hamilton Southeastern Schools (HSE) and Noblesville Schools referendum’s passed easily, with nearly 75 percent support.

Lines were long at times in Fishers and in Noblesville. While Fishers property owners will pay more, Noblesville residents will see a decrease.

HSE leaders asked to increase the tax rate from 10 cents per $100 of assessed value to 22 cents. What this means for a person with a home valued at $250,000, they’ll pay $166 more a year.

HSE officials say they’ll use the money to lower class sizes by hiring 43 teachers, adding mobile classrooms. While they’ll pay more, people we spoke with were glad to see the measure pass.

“We have a very good school system. Anything you do to add additional funds can only make it better,” Fishers resident Jeff Campbell said. “I think it’s really good for anybody that has kids in the Hamilton County school system.”

“I think education is important,” Fishers resident Jeannie Waterbury said. “I want Fishers to have good schools so that we’ll have a good community.”

In Noblesville, voters agreed to pass a referendum which includes a 10.5 percent drop from the current rate.

This means for a person with a home valued at $250,000, they’ll pay $250 a year in taxes, but it’s $30 less than what they pay right now.

Noblesville leaders said they’ll use the money on teachers, and maintaining class sizes. People we spoke with were happy to see it pass.

“I have kids coming into school year, next year, and so I hope that they can go into good public schools,” Noblesville resident Katie Caesar said.

“I know a lot of teachers and they’re definitely encouraging us to vote, yes,” Noblesville resident Melody Piazza said. “It’s good for the schools and it’s good for the kids. We have got very strong schools here in Noblesville.”

Had it not passed, Noblesville officials said it would have lost $6 million a year, and would’ve laid off 150 faculty members.