The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District has submitted its proposed 2026 budget to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), but district officials caution that the numbers are preliminary.

At a budget work session Wednesday night, Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown explained that the figures sent to the state are intentionally on the high side. By law, the DLGF can lower requested amounts but has no authority to raise them.

The proposed budget for 2026 across all funds totals $340.9 million, up from $326.3 million in 2025.

Enrollment Trends a Concern

State funding is tied largely to student enrollment, and current numbers show HSE’s total student population at 20,313—below the demographer’s most recent forecast. Brown highlighted an enrollment imbalance as a long-term concern: about 1,200 kindergarteners compared to 1,800 seniors.

To address declining enrollment, HSE has allowed families from outside district boundaries to apply for admission. Seventy-nine students enrolled this year through that program. Superintendent Patrick Mapes said the district plans to extend the application deadline in future years after some families expressed interest too late.

Local Revenue and Spending Pressures

Brown said he expects a small increase in the 2026 property tax rate—less than one cent. Local property taxes cover expenses such as operations, facilities, debt service, and transportation.

The district also plans to draw down cash balances to help fund the 2026 budget, a practice Brown warned is not sustainable.

Additional financial pressures include:

• Teacher Retirement Fund: A state-mandated $600,000 contribution, which Brown described as a “curveball.”

• Health Care Costs: An anticipated $4.4 million increase that will affect both the district and employees. Final details will be shaped through contract negotiations with the teachers’ association.

Looking for Savings

Mapes stressed that administrators are examining cost-saving measures that avoid direct impact on classrooms. He pointed to the ongoing redistricting process as one such effort. A proposed redistricting map is expected to go before the school board before the end of this year.

You can review Tim Brown’s entire presentation to the school board at this link.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board is preparing to ask voters to approve another operating referendum during the 2026 general election. Superintendent Patrick Mapes made the recommendation at Wednesday night’s board meeting, held to review the district’s 2026 budget.

“We cannot wait, and now they’ve [the state legislature] changed the law—you can only do a referendum on a general election year, either ’26, ’28, or ’30,” Mapes told board members. “The loss that we have, we cannot continue having enough money to actually operate the school district.”

While the district’s gross assessed property valuation is expected to rise in the coming years, state lawmakers have enacted larger deductions through 2031 that reduce the net assessed valuation. Because tax revenue is based on that lower net figure, HSE will collect less money even at the same referendum tax rate.

The district’s current referendum rate is $0.1995, which will generate just under $30 million in 2026—most of it used to fund teacher salaries. Under current law, however, revenue from the referendum fund will begin to decline as the expanded deductions take effect.

Mapes also said county officials initially misapplied the new law when providing assessed valuation numbers to local governments, and corrected figures now show that HSE must seek voter approval for a new referendum in 2026.

HSE is not alone. Mapes expects other Hamilton County school districts will also place referendums on the 2026 ballot in response to the property tax changes.

“Now we’re going to have to ask for a higher rate, but we will not use that highest level of rate until the last year of the referendum,” Mapes explained. He offered an example of requesting voter approval for a 40-cent rate, while initially levying only 22 cents, then possibly 25 cents the following year, as deductions continue to increase.

“That will be a big education piece for everyone because it’s no longer just a fixed tax rate,” Mapes said.

District staff will now begin drafting a formal proposal. The school board will make the final decision on whether to place the referendum on the ballot and what rate to request.

The current referendum rate was approved by voters in 2023, when state law allowed a school referendum to be placed on the ballot in an odd-numbered election year.  It went into effect in 2024.

The Heartland Film Festival, one of the Midwest’s most respected film events with a strong national reputation, has selected a student-produced film for its 2025 lineup for the first time. 11:17, created by the Hamilton Southeastern High School Film Club, will be featured at this year’s festival.

Club adviser Jamie Follis and producer Katie Follis joined Larry to discuss the film, its selection, and the work of the HSE Film Club. Listen to the conversation at the link below.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) and Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools announced Tuesday evening they have reached a settlement in a dispute stemming from an Unfair Labor Practice complaint filed by the union earlier this year.

HSEA, which represents district teachers, had accused HSE officials of creating a hostile environment for union leaders. The complaint alleged that district administrators—particularly the newly hired Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources—engaged in intimidation, refused to reschedule meetings when union representatives were unavailable, and even made threats tied to employment status. The union claimed those actions were attempts to interfere with union operations and to hinder teachers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively.

The settlement comes as the two sides prepare to open negotiations on a new teachers’ contract, a process governed by state timelines.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, both parties acknowledged problems in how the situation was handled and pledged to move forward with improved communication.

“The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association filed a complaint against Hamilton Southeastern Schools alleging the school committed unfair labor practices by interfering with the Association’s right to represent teachers and by threatening retaliation for protected Association activities,” the statement read. “Both parties agree the actions of Hamilton Southeastern Schools described in the case were inappropriate and should not have occurred. The parties have agreed to training by the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board to improve relationships moving forward. The parties look forward to working together for the best interests of students.”

Neither side released additional details about the settlement. However, both emphasized that the agreement clears the way for a more constructive relationship as contract talks begin.

The Unfair Labor Practice case had been a lingering point of contention between HSE Schools and HSEA, underscoring strains in labor-management relations. With negotiations on a new contract now set to begin, both sides are publicly signaling a desire to turn the page.

Jeff Worrell has served on the Carmel City Council for many years.  He has seen a change in the atmosphere of his local politics.  He began to sense a lack of civility.

That motivated Jeff to help found Project Civility, a nonprofit organization.  He is helping to sponsor a seminar September 26 & 27 in Carmel to focus on civility.  For more information on Project Civility, use this link.

Jeff speaks with Larry about his views on civility and the upcoming seminar.  Listen to the podcast at the link below.

As recently announced, Fishers will no longer pursue a roundabout at 116th Street and Allisonville Road. Instead, the city will move forward with a traditional intersection, and the Board of Works and Public Safety has approved a resolution accepting $2.6 million in federal funds to support the project. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.

City Engineering Director Hatem Mekky told the board the change in design will minimize disruptions. A roundabout would have required closing the intersection entirely, while the new plan allows traffic to continue flowing, though with lane restrictions during construction. Extended left-turn lanes will be added to reduce rush-hour backups.

Mekky said the project will also include upgraded traffic signals with advanced technology to better manage traffic flow. He expects that system to be expanded to major corridors across Fishers.  The 116th & Allisonville upgrade should remain effective for at least a decade, according to Mekky.

Looking further ahead, Mekky predicted that Allisonville Road will see lighter traffic once major nearby road projects wrap up in 2026 and 2027. Those include INDOT’s Clear Path work at I-69 and I-465 in Marion County, Hamilton County’s project at 146th Street and Allisonville Road, and construction at 141st Street and State Road 37.

Other board actions

• Sports banners downtown: New banners will soon be installed on the Edge Building along 116th Street, highlighting the three teams that will call the Fishers Event Center home — Indy Fuel hockey, Indy Ignite volleyball, and Fishers Freight indoor football. The signage is scheduled to be up by October 7.

• Sewer service for Lynwood Hills: The board approved a professional services agreement with Butler, Fairman & Seufert to prepare construction documents for extending sewer service to 160 homes in the Lynwood Hills neighborhood, near 131st Street and Allisonville Road. The homes currently rely on septic systems. Mayor Scott Fadness praised the project and the annexation process that made it possible, calling it “a good project for the community.”

• Sahm’s café at new community center: Sahm’s will operate a café inside the Fishers Community Center, which is set to open in early November. The café will be open to both Center members and the general public.

• Expanded parking ban: Maple Street, both east and west sides, will now fall under the city’s 3 a.m.–6 a.m. parking ban, which already covers much of the Nickel Plate District.

The Board of Works consists of Mayor Scott Fadness and his two appointees, Jeff Lantz and Steve Orusa.

The Hamilton County Highway Department has good and bad news for area motorists traversing 146th Street along the construction zone at Allisonville Road.  The bad news is there will be ramp closures on Tuesday, September 23.  The good news is both ramp closures should start at 9:00am and be complete by 3:00pm, and be done one at a time,  if all goes as scheduled.

See the update below, provided by Hamilton County:

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Please be advised, beginning on or after Tuesday, September 23, 2025, beginning at 9:00 AM, drivers should expect the southwest ramp at 146th and Allisonville to be closed. Drivers will not be able to access Allisonville Road from eastbound 146th Street. 

After completion of the work on the southwest ramp, the contractor will close the northeast ramp, at which time drivers will not be able to access Allisonville Rd. from westbound 146th Street.

All ramps are expected to be reopened by 3:00 PM.

Please use extreme caution and follow the posted work zone speed limit while driving through this construction zone.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association HSEF) is planning another big night at the Fishers Event Center in February of next year.  In this podcast, Executive Director of HSEF, Justin Hirnisey, talks about the big fund raiser for the foundation and much more in this podcast with Larry.

Two of the biggest names from the 1990s music scene will perform in Fishers next year as part of a fundraiser for local schools.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation (HSEF) announced that Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms will co-headline a benefit concert Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at the Fishers Event Center.

Proceeds from the event will support HSEF programs, including teacher grants, student scholarships, mental health resources, and wellness initiatives across all grade levels in Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

Blues Traveler, formed more than 35 years ago in Princeton, N.J., has released 14 studio albums and sold more than 10 million units. The band is best known for its Grammy-winning single Run-Around, which became the longest-charting radio hit in Billboard history. The group has performed more than 2,000 shows for 30 million fans and continues to tour nationally. Their 2021 album Traveler’s Blues was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Traditional Blues Album category.

Gin Blossoms, founded in 1987 in Tempe, Ariz., rose to prominence with their 1992 album New Miserable Experience, which went quadruple platinum and produced hits such as Hey Jealousy, Allison Road, and Until I Fall Away. Their 1996 release Congratulations I’m Sorry went platinum and included the Top 10 single Follow You Down along with the Grammy-nominated track As Long as It Matters.

In addition to the concert, the evening will include HSEF’s annual silent auction. The auction will feature hundreds of items and experiences, including baskets created by each of the district’s 22 schools and PTOs. Bidding will be available online and will close the night of the event.

Limited table seating with early access, food, and beverages will be available through HSEF’s annual sponsorship program.  Tickets go on sale September 26 at 10:00am.

There has been plenty of discussion lately about free speech and censorship. As someone who conducted live radio interviews throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, and has hosted a regular podcast since 2016, I’ve been reflecting on the ethics of interviewing public officials as a journalist.

That reflection deepened after I read a recent column by Jim Shella in the Indianapolis Business Journal’s opinion section, Forefront. For those unfamiliar with his work, Shella covered state politics for WISH-TV in Indianapolis for more than three decades and hosted the long-running public broadcasting program Indiana Week in Review. Even in retirement, Shella continues to write and, as his most recent column revealed, occasionally joins podcasts. His perspective on how journalists should approach such conversations is worth noting.

When inviting public officials or political candidates to appear on my podcast, I’m often asked in advance what questions I plan to ask. My answer is always the same: I’ll share the general topics, but not the exact questions. Journalism doesn’t work when interviews are pre-scripted. On the rare occasion I get pushback, I point out that advance approval of questions is common practice in places like Russia, China, and North Korea—not here. That usually ends the debate, and most officials agree to participate. A few decline, and that is their choice.

In his column, Shella described being invited by public relations professional Robert Vane to join a podcast conversation with Indiana Senate Pro Tem Rod Bray. For those less familiar with the General Assembly, the Pro Tem is the Senate’s top leader, much like the Speaker of the House in that chamber.

At the time of the interview—August 28—redistricting was a hot issue, and Bray held significant influence over whether it would happen mid-decade. According to Shella, Vane asked him not to bring up redistricting. Shella refused, citing journalistic ethics. To Vane’s credit, he still allowed Shella to participate, and Bray knew the subject would likely come up.

When Shella asked about it, Bray offered the same canned response twice: “We have heard the ask and we are considering it.” The questions weren’t combative, but they went unanswered. Shella’s point in his column was clear: the public deserved more from such an influential elected leader.

I agree with Shella. Guests on my podcast aren’t entitled to know my specific questions in advance. What I offer instead is rare in today’s sound bite media climate: a long-form conversation, usually around 30 minutes, where officials and community leaders have the space to explain themselves fully. It’s not a “gotcha” setting—but it’s also not scripted.

Jim Shella is a member of the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, an honor he has earned. Even in retirement, he models the ethical standards he upheld throughout his career.

As for me, I left professional journalism years ago to serve in the federal civil service. Now, in retirement, I devote my time to writing this local news site and producing podcasts because I believe independent local journalism still matters. The ethics I learned decades ago as a broadcaster remain important today, even in a volunteer role.

Thanks for listening to my podcasts and for supporting this site.

You can read Jim Shella’s Forefront commentary at this link.  IBJ does have a pay wall, but it appears this commentary can be accessed by non-subscribers.