NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — Noblesville Schools plans to lay off staff in the coming weeks as a multi-million dollar budget deficit pushes the school corporation toward the brink.
“Thanks to sound financial management and savings, we are not in crisis mode right now,” said Dan Hile, the superintendent of Noblesville Schools. “But this direction is not sustainable, and changes must be made to balance the budget so that we can ensure strong financial stability into the future.”
Noblesville Schools said the significant shortfall in the 2026 budget stems from a combination of factors, including:
- Senate Bill 1, a new state property tax spearheaded by Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, has led to reduced funding for school corporations and cities. Noblesville School said the new property tax law has reduced its funding by millions of dollars a year.
- A large decline in student enrollment. Noblesville Schools pointed to lower birth rates, fewer school-aged families living in Noblesville and a high cost of housing as reasons for a decline in enrollment.
- Increased inflation.
The district said over the past year, Noblesville Schools has taken steps to try to offset the financial challenges. These mediation attempts included providing only modest salary increases for teachers and staff, frozen salary increases for administrative leaders and school board members, reduced positions, renegotiated contracts, shifting equipment purchases, implementing technology for better efficiency and maximizing revenue generation…