Information Maintained by the Office of Code Revision Indiana Legislative Services Agency
IC 20-46
    ARTICLE 46. LEVIES OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND LEVIES

IC 20-46-1
     Chapter 1. Referendum Tax Levy

IC 20-46-1-1
"Base tax levy"
     Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "base tax levy" means the total dollar amount of the property tax levied by a school corporation for the school corporation's general fund for taxes collectible in 1973, assuming one hundred percent (100%) tax collection, as adjusted under IC 6-1.1-19-4.4(a)(4) (before its repeal), IC 6-1.1-19-4.5(c) (before its repeal), IC 6-1.1-19-6(b) (before its repeal), and IC 6-1.1-19-6(c) (before its repeal).
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169.

IC 20-46-1-2
Repealed
    (Repealed by P.L.146-2008, SEC.810.)

IC 20-46-1-3
"Fund"
     Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the referendum tax levy fund.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169.

IC 20-46-1-4
"Levy"
     Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "levy" refers to the property tax levy imposed under this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169.

IC 20-46-1-5
"Referendum"
     Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "referendum" refers to a referendum under this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169.

IC 20-46-1-6
Power; levy
     Sec. 6. A school corporation may impose a referendum tax levy for the school corporation's fund in the amount allowed under:
        (1) section 7 of this chapter;
        (2) sections 8 through 19 of this chapter; or
        (3) both subdivisions (1) and (2).
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169.

IC 20-46-1-7

Transfer of certain levies from general fund
     Sec. 7. (a) This section applies to a school corporation that added an amount to the school corporation's base tax levy before 2002 as the result of the approval of an excessive tax levy by the majority of individuals voting in a referendum held in the area served by the school corporation under IC 6-1.1-19-4.5 (before its repeal).
    (b) A school corporation may adopt a resolution before September 21, 2005, to transfer the power of the school corporation to levy the amount described in subsection (a) from the school corporation's general fund to the school corporation's fund. A school corporation that adopts a resolution under this section shall, as soon as practicable after adopting the resolution, send a certified copy of the resolution to the department of local government finance and the county auditor. A school corporation that adopts a resolution under this section may, for property taxes first due and payable after 2005, levy an additional amount for the fund that does not exceed the amount of the excessive tax levy added to the school corporation's base tax levy before 2002.
    (c) The power of the school corporation to impose the levy transferred to the fund under this section expires December 31, 2012, unless:
        (1) the school corporation adopts a resolution to reimpose or extend the levy; and
        (2) the levy is approved, before January 1, 2013, by a majority of the individuals who vote in a referendum that is conducted in accordance with the requirements in this chapter.
As soon as practicable after adopting the resolution under subdivision (1), the school corporation shall send a certified copy of the resolution to the department of local government finance and the county auditor. However, if requested by the school corporation in the resolution adopted under subdivision (1), the question of reimposing or extending a levy transferred to the fund under this section may be combined with a question presented to the voters to reimpose or extend a levy initially imposed after 2001. A levy reimposed or extended under this subsection shall be treated for all purposes as a levy reimposed or extended under this chapter.
    (d) The school corporation's levy under this section may not be considered in the determination of the school corporation's state tuition support distribution under IC 20-43 or the determination of any other property tax levy imposed by the school corporation.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.494; P.L.182-2009(ss), SEC.345; P.L.41-2010, SEC.5.

IC 20-46-1-8
Resolution for referendum levy; purposes of referendum levy
     Sec. 8. (a) Subject to this chapter, the governing body of a school corporation may adopt a resolution to place a referendum under this chapter on the ballot for either of the following purposes:
        (1) The governing body of the school corporation determines that it cannot, in a calendar year, carry out its public educational

duty unless it imposes a referendum tax levy under this chapter.
        (2) The governing body of the school corporation determines that a referendum tax levy under this chapter should be imposed to replace property tax revenue that the school corporation will not receive because of the application of the credit under IC 6-1.1-20.6.
    (b) The governing body of the school corporation shall certify a copy of the resolution to the department of local government finance, including (in the case of a resolution certified to the department of local government finance after April 30, 2011) the language for the question required by section 10 of this chapter. In the case of a resolution certified to the department of local government finance after April 30, 2011, the department shall review the language for compliance with section 10 of this chapter and either approve or reject the language. The department shall send its decision to the governing body of the school corporation not more than ten (10) days after the resolution is submitted to the department. If the language is approved, the governing body of the school corporation shall certify a copy of the resolution, including the language for the question and the department's approval, to:
        (1) the county fiscal body (for informational purposes only); and
        (2) the circuit court clerk;
of each county in which the school corporation is located.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.495; P.L.41-2010, SEC.6; P.L.198-2011, SEC.5.

IC 20-46-1-9
Referendum
     Sec. 9. A referendum tax levy under this chapter may be put into effect only if a majority of the individuals who vote in a referendum that is conducted in accordance with this section and sections 10 through 19 of this chapter approves the appellant school corporation's making a levy for the ensuing calendar year.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.496.

IC 20-46-1-10
Form; referendum question
     Sec. 10. The question to be submitted to the voters in the referendum must read as follows:
        "For the __ (insert number) calendar year or years immediately following the holding of the referendum, shall the school corporation impose a property tax rate that does not exceed _____________ (insert amount) cents ($0.__) (insert amount) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation and that is in addition to all other property tax levies imposed by the school corporation?".
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169. Amended by P.L.113-2010, SEC.97.


IC 20-46-1-10.5
Distribution of levy approved in referendum
     Sec. 10.5. (a) This section applies to taxes first due and payable in 2012 or a subsequent year.
    (b) The county auditor shall distribute proceeds collected from an allocation area (as defined in IC 6-1.1-21.2-3) that are attributable to property taxes imposed after being approved by the voters in a referendum conducted after April 30, 2010, to the taxing unit for which the referendum was conducted.
    (c) The amount to be distributed under subsection (b) shall be treated as part of the referendum levy for purposes of setting tax rates for property taxes imposed after being approved by the voters in a referendum conducted after April 30, 2010.
As added by P.L.203-2011, SEC.4.

IC 20-46-1-11
Maximum term of levy
     Sec. 11. The voters in a referendum may not approve a levy that is imposed for more than seven (7) years. However, a levy may be reimposed or extended under this chapter.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169.

IC 20-46-1-12
Repealed
     (Repealed by P.L.198-2011, SEC.11.)
IC 20-46-1-13
Circuit court clerk duties
     Sec. 13. Each circuit court clerk shall, upon receiving the question certified by the governing body of a school corporation under this chapter, call a meeting of the county election board to make arrangements for the referendum.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.498; P.L.198-2011, SEC.6.

IC 20-46-1-14
Date of referendum
     Sec. 14. (a) The referendum shall be held in the next primary election, general election, or municipal election in which all the registered voters who are residents of the appellant school corporation are entitled to vote after certification of the question under IC 3-10-9-3. The certification of the question must occur not later than noon:
        (1) sixty (60) days before a primary election if the question is to be placed on the primary or municipal primary election ballot; or
        (2) August 1 if the question is to be placed on the general or municipal election ballot.
However, if a primary election, general election, or municipal election will not be held during the first year in which the public

question is eligible to be placed on the ballot under this chapter and if the appellant school corporation requests the public question to be placed on the ballot at a special election, the public question shall be placed on the ballot at a special election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May or November of the year. The certification must occur not later than noon sixty (60) days before a special election to be held in May (if the special election is to be held in May) or noon on August 1 (if the special election is to be held in November).
    (b) If the referendum is not conducted at a primary election, general election, or municipal election, the appellant school corporation in which the referendum is to be held shall pay all the costs of holding the referendum.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.499; P.L.113-2010, SEC.98.

IC 20-46-1-15
Duties; county election board
     Sec. 15. Each county election board shall cause:
        (1) the question certified to the circuit court clerk by the governing body of a school corporation to be placed on the ballot in the form prescribed by IC 3-10-9-4; and
        (2) an adequate supply of ballots and voting equipment to be delivered to the precinct election board of each precinct in which the referendum is to be held.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.500; P.L.198-2011, SEC.7.

IC 20-46-1-16
Qualified voters
     Sec. 16. The individuals entitled to vote in the referendum are all of the registered voters resident in the appellant school corporation.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169.

IC 20-46-1-17
Conduct of election
     Sec. 17. Each precinct election board shall count the affirmative votes and the negative votes cast in the referendum and shall certify those two (2) totals to the county election board of each county in which the referendum is held. The circuit court clerk of each county shall, immediately after the votes cast in the referendum have been counted, certify the results of the referendum to the department of local government finance. If a majority of the individuals who voted in the referendum voted "yes" on the referendum question:
        (1) the department of local government finance shall promptly notify the school corporation that the school corporation is authorized to collect, for the calendar year that next follows the calendar year in which the referendum is held, a levy not greater than the amount approved in the referendum;
        (2) the levy may be imposed for the number of calendar years

approved by the voters following the referendum for the school corporation in which the referendum is held; and
        (3) the school corporation shall establish a fund under IC 20-40-3-1.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.501; P.L.198-2011, SEC.8.

IC 20-46-1-18
Levy; additional to other levies
     Sec. 18. A school corporation's levy may not be considered in the determination of the school corporation's state tuition support distribution under IC 20-43 or the determination of any other property tax levy imposed by the school corporation.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.502; P.L.1-2009, SEC.126.

IC 20-46-1-19
Rejection of voters; waiting period
     Sec. 19. If a majority of the persons who voted in the referendum did not vote "yes" on the referendum question:
        (1) the school corporation may not make any levy for its referendum tax levy fund; and
        (2) another referendum under this section may not be held for one (1) year after the date of the referendum.
As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.169. Amended by P.L.146-2008, SEC.503.

IC 20-46-1-19.5
Limitations on successive referenda
     Sec. 19.5. (a) If a referendum is approved by the voters in a school corporation under this chapter in a calendar year, another referendum may not be placed on the ballot in the school corporation under this chapter in the following calendar year.
    (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and in addition to the restriction specified in subsection (a), if a school corporation imposes in a calendar year a referendum levy approved in a referendum under this chapter, the school corporation may not simultaneously impose in that calendar year more than one (1) additional referendum levy approved in a subsequent referendum under this chapter.
As added by P.L.198-2011, SEC.9.

IC 20-46-1-20
Restrictions on promoting a position on a referendum
     Sec. 20. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, during the period beginning with the adoption of a resolution by the governing body of a school corporation to place a referendum under this chapter on the ballot and continuing through the day on which the referendum is submitted to the voters, the school corporation may not promote a position on the referendum by doing any of the

following:
        (1) Using facilities or equipment, including mail and messaging systems, owned by the school corporation to promote a position on the referendum, unless equal access to the facilities or equipment is given to persons with a position opposite to that of the school corporation.
        (2) Making an expenditure of money from a fund controlled by the school corporation to promote a position on the referendum.
        (3) Using an employee to promote a position on the referendum during the employee's normal working hours or paid overtime, or otherwise compelling an employee to promote a position on the referendum at any time. However, if a person described in subsection (d) is advocating for or against a position on the referendum or discussing the referendum as authorized under subsection (d), an employee of the school corporation may assist the person in presenting information on the referendum, if requested to do so by the person described in subsection (d).
        (4) Promoting a position on the referendum by:
            (A) using students to transport written materials to their residences or in any way involving students in a school organized promotion of a position;
            (B) including a statement within another communication sent to the students' residences; or
            (C) initiating discussion of the referendum at a meeting between a teacher and parents of a student regarding the student's performance or behavior at school. However, if the parents initiate a discussion of the referendum at the meeting, the teacher may acknowledge the issue and direct the parents to a source of factual information on the referendum.
However, this section does not prohibit an official or employee of the school corporation from carrying out duties with respect to a referendum that are part of the normal and regular conduct of the official's or employee's office or agency, including the furnishing of factual information regarding the referendum in response to inquiries from any person.
    (b) The staff and employees of a school corporation may not personally identify a student as the child of a parent or guardian who supports or opposes the referendum.
    (c) This subsection does not apply to:
        (1) a personal expenditure to promote a position on a local public question by an employee of a school corporation whose employment is governed by a collective bargaining contract or an employment contract; or
        (2) an expenditure to promote a position on a local public question by a person or an organization that has a contract or an arrangement (whether formal or informal) with the school corporation solely for the use of the school corporation's facilities.
A person or an organization that has a contract or arrangement

(whether formal or informal) with a school corporation to provide goods or services to the school corporation may not spend any money to promote a position on the petition or remonstrance. A person or an organization that violates this subsection commits a Class A infraction.
    (d) Notwithstanding any other law, an elected or appointed school board member or a school corporation superintendent, school corporation assistant superintendent, or chief school business official of a school corporation may at any time:
        (1) personally advocate for or against a position on a referendum; or
        (2) discuss the referendum with any individual, group, or organization or personally advocate for or against a position on a referendum before any individual, group, or organization;
so long as it is not done by using public funds. Advocacy or discussion allowed under this subsection is not considered a use of public funds. However, this subsection does not authorize or apply to advocacy or discussion by a school board member, superintendent, assistant superintendent, or school business official to or with students that occurs during the regular school day.
    (e) A student may use school equipment or facilities to report or editorialize about a local public question as part of the news coverage of the referendum by a student newspaper or broadcast.
As added by P.L.198-2011, SEC.10.