When voting season rolls around this November, the community will have the opportunity to dictate whether or not extra funding for Duneland schools continues. 

The 2025 referendum is a local vote that intends to raise the rate on property taxes in the district from 22 to 39 cents per $100 of a lot’s assessed value, and by doing so, increase the school board’s budget. In 2012 and once again in 2019, the citizens of Chesterton and surrounding areas have reflected their support for the public school system by voting in favor of the referendum, and now, community reinforcement is more important than ever. 

Due to the recent change in state laws that alters the way property taxes are determined, the already minute rate needs to increase by a mere 17 cents for Duneland to be able to continue providing additional funds to its schools. Despite the slight increase in property taxes local homeowners will face, the overall bill on property taxes is projected to drop an average of $180 from 2025, thanks to Indiana’s recent tax deductions and credit reformations. Although the state has implemented several new laws that lessen the severity of individual taxes, other changes reduce the funds schools receive from local property taxes. By implementing a minor increase in property taxes, the school district will have a larger budget for the spending that keeps Chesterton schools thriving.

The 2025 referendum will help Duneland maintain the ability to put extra funds towards its schools, but just because this money is an added benefit does not mean it isn’t necessary. The success and overall well-being of Duneland schools heavily depend on this so-called “extra” cash for a variety of amenities, such as keeping staff and faculty employed and providing students with a vast array of learning opportunities. When the referendum was first passed in 2012, funding made possible everything that makes Duneland schools some of the best in Northwest Indiana. Extended programs like advanced and IB courses, internships, and vocational connections, employing resource officers, counselors, and nurses, and ranking so well against other Indiana schools for standardized testing are all prides of Chesterton that are contingent on additional funds. 

“Strong schools strengthen the entire community,” says Superintendent Dr. Chip Pettit on why a school’s general success is so important.

“Families want to live where schools are thriving, and that demand helps support higher property values across our area. Passing the referendum helps protect both the quality of education and the value of our homes.”

Pettit notes that CHS’s 99% graduation rate, 1 in 3 of graduates leaving high school with college credit, and students’ consistent rank in the top 10 of standardized test scores in the state are all achievements directly related to the referendum.  

The consequences of failure to pass the 2025 referendum would be slow to take effect, but nevertheless bleak. The inverse of the referendum’s benefits would ensue, meaning larger class sizes, less diverse options for courses and extracurriculars, and staff cuts. In other words, it would inevitably strip away some of the best aspects of Duneland schools, worsening the experience for students and thus curtailing their academic triumphs. Property values would drop in line with the dropping value of the schools, and Chesterton would overall cease to be the flourishing community we all know and love. 

“The referendum accounts for millions in annual revenue; dollars Duneland cannot replace with state funding,” says Petitt. 

“Without it, the school board would be forced to make deep budget cuts.”

Complex calculations project this looming threat, but not as well as cold, hard evidence does. Other schools in the area that failed to pass their own district referendum suffer repercussions like shortened school weeks, smaller and weaker staff, larger classes, and primary courses only, meaning no AP, honors, or elective programs. Especially at the high school level, falling into this condition would be detrimental to students’ education. To some homeowners in Duneland, these consequences might seem irrelevant, but despite personal concerns, voting in favor of the referendum to maintain local schools’ prosperity is the right thing to do. 

“The goal is simple,” says Petitt, “make sure every voter understands what’s at stake. Passing the referendum keeps our schools strong, our teachers supported, and our community growing.”

The official vote will be collected during the general election on November 4, but early voting opens as early as October 20. As long as just over half of the votes are in favor of the proposition, the referendum will pass. Whether the outcome is positive or negative, the effects will be applied for the next calendar year and last up to eight. It is up to you if that is eight years of misfortune or eight years of success. 

Here is a link to further information regarding the referendum, including additional details and ways to show your support before the election begins: https://dunelandstrong.com/