Voters pass record rate of tax hikes for schools

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana residents are having a change of heart as struggling school districts come to them with requests for more money.

Voters in Tuesday’s primary election approved nine of 10 calls for tax increases to support schools. That’s the highest approval rate since property tax caps passed in 2008 and drove schools to ask voters for more money.

Education leaders say the change means districts are getting better at communicating their needs to sometimes-reluctant residents.

Superintendents say statewide property tax caps drained school funds and left some districts at risk of consolidating.

But some residents still are hesitant to agree to tax themselves and say schools need to do more to cut back on unnecessary costs before going to voters.