The financial outlook for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools in 2026 appears steady, but district officials warn of growing challenges in the years ahead.

Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown told the school board’s Finance Committee Tuesday that while 2026 revenues are expected to hold up, changes in state tax policy will begin to strain the district’s referendum funding starting in 2027.

Superintendent Patrick Mapes said new state rules on local government finance could force HSE to revisit its current referendum in 2028. “In 2026, you will see a lot of school districts go and fix their referendum rate,” Mapes said. “And that’s probably something that (HSE will) have to do in ’28.”

Property Tax Changes Impacting Revenue

Brown explained that state lawmakers have expanded property tax deductions, gradually reducing the base value on which tax rates are applied. For HSE, this will erode revenue from its voter-approved referendum rate, which cannot be changed without another referendum.

Brown projects the referendum will generate $27.5 million in 2026, but revenue will drop to $26.6 million in 2027, $24.7 million in 2028, and $25.1 million in 2029. While assessed property values are expected to rise, the expanded deductions will offset those gains.

Class Size Concerns

Mapes reminded the committee that class sizes were a central issue in passing the last referendum. He said the new revenue pressures will likely affect staffing.  He proposes class sizes remain the same for grades kindergarten through grade 3, but look at changes in grade 4 and above.

“I think, in order for us to be realistic about what we’re doing and trying to keep staff in place, we’re not going to be able to maintain 25 & 26 (students per class). It could mean we go to 26 in all of them,” Mapes said. He noted that even a small increase in class sizes across a district as large as HSE has major implications for staffing costs.

State Tuition Support Declines

For the 2025–2026 school year, HSE will receive $7,121.04 in tuition support for each student—an increase of $281.90 per student. However, after factoring in the district’s new obligation to cover the cost of curricular materials, the net gain falls to $124 per student.

The official state student count will be taken October 1. Brown’s projection shows 20,262 in-person students and 14 in virtual programs enrolled for 2025–2026. Because enrollment is down from last year, state tuition support will fall by about $359,302. Without the benefit of out-of-district transfers, Brown said the loss would have been closer to $900,000.

Consumables Fee Proposal Coming

Looking ahead, Mapes said he plans to propose a “consumables fee” in spring 2026. The fee would cover one-time-use items such as workbooks, food for culinary classes, or science lab materials. He estimated the fee would be no more than $100 per student and would take effect in the 2026–2027 school year.

Brown said no tax rate changes are expected in 2026, but “difficult conversations” are likely after that as referendum and operations funding continue to feel the effects of state property tax changes.

You can access Tim Brown’s presentation before the Finance Committee at this link.

There are certain holidays that will impact trash collection in Fishers as part of the city’s contract with Republic Services.  One of those holidays is Labor Day

So employees of Republic may enjoy Labor Day with their families, trash collection in Fishers will be delayed by one day.  Below is the schedule:

• Monday’s collection will occur on Tuesday, September 2nd.
• Tuesday’s collection will occur on Wednesday, September 3rd.
• Wednesday’s collection will occur on Thursday, September 4th.
• Thursday’s collection will occur on Friday, September 5th.
• Friday’s collection will occur on Saturday, September 6th.

Fishers city department heads met with the City Council Finance Committee on August 27 to review their 2026 budget proposals. Mayor Scott Fadness is scheduled to present his full budget to the council on September 15, with more details expected to be released to the public in the days leading up to that meeting.

Engineering Director Hatem Mekky provided an update on several major projects his department expects to complete this year and those scheduled for 2026.

One of the most closely watched projects is the interchange at 141st Street and State Road 37, where construction crews are building an underpass for through traffic on State Road 37 and a roundabout for motorists using 141st Street. City officials had previously projected completion by the end of this year. Mekky told the committee he still hopes that timeline can be met but acknowledged the work may stretch into next year. If delayed, he expects the interchange to be finished by spring 2026, completing the long-planned State Road 37 corridor improvements in Fishers.

Another major project is planned near the I-69 Exit 210 interchange, where the existing five-prong roundabout at Olio Road and Southeastern Parkway will be reconfigured into a four-leg roundabout. The plan calls for eliminating one connection, creating a “tear-drop” design at 136th Street, and adding a traffic signal on Olio Road north of the roundabout. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, though no detailed timeline was provided.

“That would hopefully clean up that area, make it easier for people to navigate,” Mekky said. “It will be a two-lane roundabout. If you are coming north on Olio, it will have three lanes at that approach — one dedicated to the I-69 exit, with the other two continuing north and east toward 136th Street.”

Several other projects are nearing completion or set to begin soon:

• This year: The Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian bridge over 96th Street is expected to open, along with the new roundabout at 136th Street and Prairie Baptist Road.

• 2026: Work is scheduled to begin on a roundabout at 131st Street and Brooks School Road, pending utility and right-of-way clearances.

• 2026: Construction is planned along 136th Street between Southeastern Parkway and Prairie Baptist Road, as well as a new roundabout at 96th Street and Cyntheanne Road — currently a four-way stop after being transferred from county to city jurisdiction.

Mekky also highlighted upcoming resurfacing and trail projects.

Other department heads presented their own 2026 budget outlooks. While some departments may see reductions due to state changes in the funding formula, some departments will be asked to redirect funds toward the Health Department due to a large cut in state public health support. Public safety funding is not expected to decrease.

Meanwhile, the Fishers Community Center remains on track to open in November. Community Center Director Mike Lindbloom told committee members that membership sales are progressing well ahead of the facility’s debut.

Summer may be in its final weeks but road construction continues unabated in and around Fishers.  The list is once again long so I would suggest you check the entire listing for any projects that might impact you.

Below is the official listing, as provided by the City of Fishers, for the work week starting Monday, Labor Day, September 1:

Continue reading Weekly Fishers area road construction report →

Drivers should expect delays next week as the Hamilton County Highway Department begins temporary lane and ramp closures along 146th Street near Allisonville Road.

Starting on or after Tuesday, Sept. 2, the right lane of westbound 146th Street will be closed between Rosebud Drive and Allisonville Road from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. In addition, Saville Road will be closed at 146th Street during that time.

Later in the week, beginning on or after Thursday, Sept. 4, the northwest ramp at 146th and Allisonville will be closed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Drivers will not be able to access westbound 146th Street from Allisonville Road during the closure.

The Highway Department advises motorists to plan ahead, expect delays, and seek alternate routes when possible. Drivers are also urged to use extra caution and follow posted speed limits in the work zone.

Hamilton County’s Highway Department oversees about 600 miles of roadway, 345 bridges, and more than 600 small structures.

The Fishers Arts Council, in partnership with Hamilton County Tourism, will host the sixth annual Harvest Fest on Sunday, Sept. 7, from noon to 5 p.m. along the Nickel Plate Trail in Fishers.

This year’s free, family-friendly festival will feature more than 60 artists, artisans, and authors, as well as ten nonprofit organizations, five live musical performances, children’s activities, and a wide range of food and drink vendors.

The festival, which outgrew its former home at Heritage Park, is expanding this year to the Nickel Plate District, a state-recognized cultural district that provides opportunities for grant support.

“It’s incredible to step back and see how Harvest Fest has grown since 2020,” said Fishers Arts Council Executive Director Les Reinhardt. “While I’m sad to leave the park, the opportunity to grow the event along the Nickel Plate Trail is invigorating.”

The festival route begins at Café Patachou’s patio at 8654 E. 116th St. and extends into seven “art fields” along the trail, ending at Fairway Mortgage, 8911 Technology Drive. A detailed event map, including parking, restrooms, and vendor locations, is available at this link.

Additional support comes from MashCraft – Fishers, which returns as the Beer Garden sponsor for the second year. Fishers Parks and the City of Fishers are also partners, providing logistical and financial assistance.

Nonprofit organizations will be showcased throughout the event, with offerings that include artwork from Janus Developmental Services, historical prints from the Fishers Historical Society, and logo wear from Saving Our Sisters to fund Ivy Tech scholarships for women veterans. Hoosier Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation will host a photo contest and bring Franklin the Snapping Turtle for visitors to meet.

Three new nonprofits are joining this year: Bee Free Bakes, the Hamilton East Public Library Foundation, and the Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation. The Delaware Township Trustee’s Office will once again collect nonperishable food and monetary donations for its food pantry.

Food trucks will also be on site, donating a portion of their proceeds to participating nonprofits.

“Harvest Fest has become more than an art fair — it’s about harvesting funds and raising awareness for organizations that serve Fishers and beyond,” Reinhardt said.

Two Democratic members of the Indiana House Public Health Committee are urging Gov. Micah Braun to lift secrecy requirements placed on his newly created Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy working group.

State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) and State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) criticized the governor’s directive that members of the group sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in order to participate. They argue the move keeps the policy review hidden from both lawmakers and the public.

The working group was established through Executive Order 25-31 in response to rising Medicaid costs. Its purpose is to examine spending on autism therapy services across the state.

Garcia Wilburn said she formally requested to serve on the panel but received no response. Both lawmakers expressed concern that the governor’s approach limits public input in a process that directly affects families who rely on Medicaid for autism services.

“Families across Indiana depend on Medicaid services to access life-changing therapies. They deserve transparency and accountability, not secrecy,” Bauer said in a statement. “It is deeply concerning that decisions affecting real people are being made out of the public eye.”

Garcia Wilburn added that autism services are “too important for closed-door politics,” and said Hoosiers deserve to know how policy decisions are being made, particularly when cost-cutting measures are under consideration.

In a joint statement, Bauer and Garcia Wilburn called on Braun to open the meetings, allow bipartisan participation, and center the discussion on families rather than finances.

The governor’s office has not yet responded publicly to the lawmakers’ concerns.

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Superintendent Patrick Mapes described Wednesday night’s school board work session as a “celebration” of state standardized test results.

Deputy Superintendent Matt Kegley presented the data, beginning with a reminder about the role of testing in evaluating schools.

“’We know that standardized assessments from the state do not tell the whole picture of our children, of our schools, of our entire district,” Kegley told the board. “But they are a moment in time where we can take a picture and say, how are we doing?”

Kegley then reviewed the results, which show steady and significant improvement since 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted learning and sharply reduced in-person classroom time.

The latest 2024–2025 scores reflect that rebound and continued growth. Among the highlights:

• IREAD testing: 96% of HSE students passed.

• Elementary schools: 10 of the district’s 13 schools reached a 95% passing rate or higher, and every school scored at least 90%.

• ILEARN testing: Combined English Language Arts and Math scores increased 1.4% compared to the previous year.

Mapes noted that more state data, including graduation rates, will be released soon. He and other administrators praised educators across the district for their work in driving the test scores upward.

Still, district leaders emphasized that improvement remains an ongoing process. Each school will be tasked with developing a new school improvement plan to build on this year’s gains.

Indiana consistently ranks at or near the bottom nationally in voter turnout. Despite high registration numbers, many Hoosiers simply don’t cast ballots when Election Day arrives. Why does this gap exist—and what can be done about it?

Those are among the questions ReCenter Indiana is working to address. The nonprofit group focuses on strengthening civic engagement and exploring ways to improve the state’s political landscape.

In this podcast, ReCenter Indiana Board President Don Knebel joins Larry to discuss the organization’s mission and priorities. Also featured is Jocelyn Vare, a longtime Fishers resident and former local Democratic leader, who was recently appointed as ReCenter’s first executive director. Vare also responds to criticism from some Republicans who argue she is too partisan to lead a centrist organization.

A traffic consultant hired by the City of Fishers has completed a study on possible locations for a traffic signal in the Spyglass neighborhood area along 116th Street. The Board of Public Works and Safety reviewed the findings Tuesday morning and plans to seek feedback from residents before making a final decision.

The study, conducted by A & F Engineering, recommends placing a signal on 116th Street at either Klotz Farm Boulevard or Spyglass Ridge Drive. In addition, the consultant suggested building a connecting street between Laurel Falls Lane and Knightsbridge Boulevard to improve neighborhood traffic flow.

That connector had been the original recommendation from city engineers, but the Board of Works previously voted in favor of adding a traffic signal after hearing concerns from residents in the Spyglass and Spyglass Falls neighborhoods. The new study was commissioned to determine the most suitable intersection for the light.

Mayor Scott Fadness acknowledged the neighborhood connector remains a divisive issue. Some residents support the idea, while others strongly oppose it. He noted that even without the connector, neighborhoods would see benefits from a nearby traffic light, since stopped traffic on 116th Street would make it easier to turn out.

The consultant also concluded that adding another signal between Cumberland Road and Hoosier Road would cause “minimal disruption” for motorists. The study included projections of future traffic growth.

Other board action:

• The city clarified days and hours for parking restrictions in two areas.  The streets involved remain the same. Near King Jugg, restrictions will apply Thursday through Monday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Near the Al Huda mosque, restrictions will remain in place each Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• The board renewed the city’s contract with Fall Creek and Delaware townships to provide fire and emergency services in unincorporated areas outside Fishers city limits.