Hamilton Southeastern Schools will head into 2027 with a smaller budget after the Board of School Trustees approved a financial plan Wednesday night projected to be about $15 million lower than this year’s.

The adopted budget totals $325.9 million, with actual spending expected to reach $323.9 million, compared to $339 million in 2026. The district attributed the decrease to ongoing cost-cutting, including nearly $8 million in projected savings identified by its Budget Task Force, along with changes in revenue and debt obligations.

“We’ve spent a lot of time over the past year looking at where we can reduce costs and operate more efficiently,” Superintendent Matt Kegley said. “That work is making a difference. We know there are still financial challenges ahead, but we’re bringing forward a budget that is about $15 million lower than last year while keeping our focus on students and the classroom.”

The district still faces declining enrollment, rising health insurance costs and higher mandatory teacher retirement contributions.

The projected 2027 tax rate is $1.1912 per $100 of assessed valuation, up from $1.1476 in 2026.

The board also approved the capital projects, bus replacement and referendum spending plans. The budget includes a projected $31.3 million Referendum Fund spending plan, with funding contingent on the outcome of the district’s replacement operating referendum Nov. 3.

Land sale bids fall short

The district received 45 bids for 16.14 acres it owns at 136th Street and Prairie Baptist Road, but none met the price school officials were willing to accept.

Several bidders said they could not close on the purchase and complete the required due diligence on the district’s timeline.

Administrators said they will ask the board next month for approval to hire Metzger Property Services to find a buyer. Under that plan, offers would be accepted through November and December of this year, the buyer would make a down payment in early 2027, and the sale would close in late 2027.

Members of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association have approved a new 2026-27 contract with Hamilton Southeastern Schools, with 97% of voting members backing the agreement.

The HSE school board held a public hearing on the contract Wednesday night. No one from the public spoke.

Craig Frawley, co-chair of the HSEA bargaining team, praised the negotiations during the hearing.

“Having worked here for 12 years, Dr. (Matt) Kegley is the fourth superintendent I have worked under. I truly believe this is the smoothest process since I’ve been here,” Frawley told the board.

The school board is scheduled to vote on ratification Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m., the final step in the approval process.

The agreement would raise eligible teachers’ base salaries by $1,225. Teachers would get another $603 if voters approve the district’s replacement operating referendum Nov. 3, for a combined increase of $1,828. Teacher salaries did not change last year.

To qualify for the raise, teachers must have worked at least 120 days during the 2025-26 school year and still be employed by HSE when the contract is ratified.

Starting pay for teachers hired after ratification would rise by $750, or $1,000 if the referendum passes. Teachers hired for 2026-27 before ratification would receive a $500 adjustment to their starting base salaries.

Other compensation provisions include:

• A $200 payment for teachers with a confirmed early literacy endorsement.
• A $4,000 supplemental payment for employees who earned a master’s degree between Dec. 15, 2024, and ratification.
• A $500 payment for qualifying employees who started between Jan. 1, 2026, and the end of the 2025-26 school year but otherwise would not qualify for the general raise.

The contract also addresses teacher safety. Teachers physically harmed by a student, or the target of a credible threat of violence, would receive paid administrative leave for the rest of the school day. Before returning to class, the teacher and building administrator would meet to discuss safety concerns, with a safety plan developed when appropriate.

Starting June 30, 2027, teachers would receive 14 paid time off days each school year, to be used before accumulated sick leave. The sick leave bank would allow approval of up to 90 days with a doctor’s note.

Beginning in 2027, married couples who are both HSE teachers would share a $20,000 pool for additional health savings account contributions. The district also cited new health insurance rates representing an investment of nearly $2.5 million.

The agreement adds extracurricular pay for high school esports, a student entrepreneurial class sponsor and a high school guidance department chair.

The full tentative agreement is available on the district’s public notices page.

The Central Indiana Regional Development Authority has adopted a regional strategy aimed at drawing life sciences investment and higher-wage jobs to central Indiana, a plan championed by CIRDA Board Chair and Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness.

The Catalyze Plan unites CIRDA’s 32 member communities behind a shared economic development framework. It is the result of a yearlong planning effort, according to a CIRDA news release.

The plan takes a broad view of life sciences, covering human, animal and plant health. It also links the sector to agriculture, advanced manufacturing and logistics, industries CIRDA says are closely connected in the region.

Fadness has been a leading advocate of regional cooperation in central Indiana, arguing that communities compete better for major investment when they work together rather than against one another.

“Central Indiana has the research institutions, industry leaders, talent, manufacturing capabilities, and logistical advantages to compete for the life sciences investments that will shape our economy for decades to come,” Fadness said in the release. “The Catalyze Plan reflects a year of thoughtful planning and regional collaboration in order to determine how we can better connect these assets and close critical gaps.”

CIRDA says the timing matters. Life sciences companies are spending billions of dollars on long-term decisions about where to put research operations, manufacturing, product development and distribution. Those decisions can take years to become buildings and jobs, and the authority says aligning regional priorities now will leave central Indiana better positioned when they are made.

The plan also builds on Gov. Mike Braun’s $1 billion commitment to agriculture and life sciences, announced in March.

A CIRDA committee representing communities across the region helped develop the plan. Bargersville Town Council President Andrew Greenwood, a CIRDA board member, said regional alignment benefits every member.

“When we align our economic development efforts regionally, every community gains a competitive edge,” Greenwood said.

The release does not identify specific projects, funding amounts or job targets tied to the plan. CIRDA describes it as a framework for building on existing strengths, addressing gaps and preparing the region to compete for the next generation of life sciences investme

Fishers celebrated the opening of its first municipally owned dog park at the Fishers Community Center with all 300 memberships sold and a waiting list of about 50.

Mayor Scott Fadness, city Recreation and Wellness Director Jake Reardon-McSoley and City Councilor Todd Zimmerman marked the occasion with remarks tracing the project back to residents’ requests for a place where dogs could play and their owners could gather.

“It’s been one of those things that residents have asked for time and time again, and today we get an opportunity to deliver it,” Fadness said.

The park includes a roughly half-acre section for small dogs and about 1½ acres available to dogs of all sizes, Reardon-McSoley said. He described the opening as the culmination of more than a year of work.

The celebration also comes during the week of the Fishers Community Center’s first anniversary, Reardon-McSoley noted.

Beyond giving dogs room to run, he said, the goal is to create another gathering place for families, friends and neighbors.

Reardon-McSoley credited Hagerman Construction and the city’s Department of Public Works for their roles in preparing the park. He singled out Public Works Chief of Staff Eric Steiner for his work bringing the grounds into shape and thanked the park’s coordinator for helping members complete the registration process.

Zimmerman recalled a conversation with Fadness at Sunrise Cafe in early 2021, when the mayor asked him to help gather residents’ ideas for a recreation center.

As the community worked through the COVID-19 pandemic, Zimmerman said, the discussions focused on ways to bring people together. A dog park ranked high among the amenities residents wanted.

Zimmerman attended the opening with his family’s dogs, Jack and Lucy. He said the two are 4 years old — younger than the community’s initial discussions about the project.

“They’re not just animals,” Zimmerman said of dogs. “They’re part of our families.”

He also recalled conversations with nearby residents who initially questioned replacing an open field with a community center. Those neighbors became involved in the planning process and are pleased with the result, he said.

The Humane Society for Hamilton County also participated in the opening celebration.

For residents hoping to join, the Community Center’s dog park website lists memberships as sold out and provides a waiting-list option. The park limits enrollment to 300 dogs.

Membership costs $72 for six months, with a limit of three dogs per family. Each dog must have required vaccination records and complete a $60 DNA test used to enforce the park’s waste cleanup policy. Dog park memberships are separate from general Community Center memberships.

After weeks of presentations to groups across the district, Hamilton Southeastern Schools’ top two officials made their referendum case again Monday night at Hub & Spoke.

The crowd was small, but the questions were plentiful.

Superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley and Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown covered enrollment, budgets and tax rates. Much of the discussion centered on the wording voters will see on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The format of that language is set by state law. HSE’s question asks voters to replace the operating referendum approved in 2023 with a new one lasting up to eight years. The new referendum would carry a maximum rate of 36 cents per $100 of assessed value. The ballot also states that for a median residence of $400,000, the annual tax bill would rise by $700 per year.

District officials say that figure reflects the maximum rate, which HSE does not plan to charge at the start. Under the rate schedule presented to the school board in May, the referendum rate would begin at 22.1 cents in 2027. It would then rise about 6 percent a year, reaching roughly 33 cents by 2034. The district projects the median homeowner would pay about $3 more per month on the 2027 tax bill.

HSE’s current referendum rate is 19.95 cents. District leaders say they would not be seeking a higher rate if not for Senate Enrolled Act 1, the 2025 state property tax overhaul. They estimate the law will cost HSE roughly $45 million in planned revenue over the remaining years of the current referendum. The district eliminated nearly 60 positions earlier this year.

Enrollment trends were also part of the conversation. Kindergarten numbers are falling, while upper-grade enrollment remains relatively steady. Kegley said HSE is seeing more new students enroll at the middle school level. He believes many young families can’t afford homes in the district when their children are small, but are able to buy in by the time those children reach middle school.

Kegley also pointed to a national decline in birth rates. He said Westfield Washington Schools is the only Hamilton County district with growing overall enrollment.

Fishers resident Judy Knafel said she arrived understanding why the district is seeking the referendum but wanted a clearer picture of the numbers.

“I learned that the ballot language was confusing, and this was very helpful in making me understand what the ‘actual’ is versus the ballot language,” Knafel said.

She plans to vote yes.

HSE is one of five Hamilton County school districts with operating referendums on the Nov. 3 ballot. Early voting continues through Monday, Nov. 2.

Hamilton County officials on Monday dedicated a newly completed five-story fire training tower, the first major piece of the county’s $32 million Public Safety Training Center in Noblesville.

Members of the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners, County Council and Emergency Management, along with fire departments from across the county, attended the ceremony and toured the facility near 161st Street and River Road.

“This is an investment in the safety of every person who lives, works, or visits Hamilton County,” said Christine Altman, president of the Hamilton County Commissioners. “Our first responders put their lives on the line for us every day. We owe it to them to provide the training, tools, and resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

The tower is designed to prepare firefighters for emergencies in mid-rise and high-rise buildings, including apartments, hotels and mixed-use developments. That kind of construction has become increasingly common in growing communities such as Fishers.

Crews will be able to practice advancing hose lines through stairwells, performing rope rescues and rappelling, positioning aerial ladders and carrying victims down stairwells. A flashover chamber will let firefighters train under realistic fire conditions in a controlled environment.

Hamilton County Councilor Tim Griffin, a Carmel firefighter, said realistic, hands-on training cannot be replaced.

“This tower gives our crews the opportunity to practice complicated rescues, work together, and build the confidence that comes from repetition,” Griffin said. “Better-trained firefighters mean faster responses, safer operations, and better outcomes for the people we’re called to protect.”

The 60-acre training center will also include more than 20,000 square feet of classroom and tactical training space, an outdoor firing range, and dedicated areas for SWAT and defensive tactics training.

Once fully operational, the center will serve as a regional hub for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical personnel. County officials said it will offer specialized instruction, joint exercises and advanced certifications, while reducing the need for first responders from Fishers and other Hamilton County communities to travel outside the county for training.

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and Fishers families can make a full day of it, with the city’s Boo Bash in the morning and trick-or-treating that evening.

Official trick-or-treat hours in Fishers are 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Fishers police officers will patrol neighborhoods throughout the evening to help keep trick-or-treaters safe. The hours are the same as last year.

When police announced the 2025 hours, they offered safety reminders that still apply. Children should stay in groups, use sidewalks when possible and have an adult with them. Trick-or-treaters should carry flashlights or glow sticks and visit only homes with porch lights on. Police also recommend bright, flame-resistant costumes, avoiding masks that block vision, and having an adult check all treats before anyone eats them. Drivers and walkers should take extra care at crossings, and children should never accept rides from strangers. Anyone who sees something suspicious should call 911 right away.

Boo Bash on the holiday itself

Boo Bash, presented by GBC Bank, runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater. The city holds the event on the last Saturday of October, so this year it falls on Halloween itself. Last year’s Boo Bash was Oct. 25.

Admission is free, and no registration is required. The Fishers Parks Department calls it a daytime, non-spooky celebration and strongly encourages costumes.

DJ Mr. Kinetik and Keegan “Seoul” Loye will host the stage. Dance lessons and performances are set for 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Costume parades cross the stage at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.

Other activities include puppet shows by Stevens Puppets, a mad scientist activity with Miss Liz the Science Whiz, and live creatures from Silly Safaris. There will also be Halloween mini golf, a straw maze and a wandering magician. Local businesses and city departments will run themed booths and hand out treats, and visitors can vote for the best-decorated booth.

Inside the City Hall Theater, the Fishers Arts Council will offer Dia de Muertos crafts, with live music from El Mariachi Solo and art and artisan vendors.

Food trucks include Chef TLC, Jack’s Lemonade, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee and Stadium on Wheels.

Bring a can, get a doughnut

Four local pantries are teaming up with Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank for a food drive at Boo Bash. They are the Delaware Township, Fall Creek Township, Come to Me and Sally Burton food pantries. Collection points will be near the entrances. Donors get a voucher for a free Parlor Doughnuts doughnut while supplies last, and cash donations are also accepted. Everything collected stays in the community.

Free parking is available in downtown lots, garages and on the street. Accessible spaces include the Fishers Police Department garage at 4 Municipal Drive and the Hamilton East Public Library lot at 5 Municipal Drive. Sensory bags with noise-canceling headphones can be checked out at the Fishers Parks tent.

Fishers Parks will post any weather updates on its Facebook and Instagram pages.

Hamilton County workers and self-employed residents whose jobs were lost or interrupted by August’s severe storms and flooding have until Tuesday, Oct. 27, to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development says Hamilton County is among the eligible counties for assistance related to employment affected on or after Aug. 11, 2026.

Applications submitted after Oct. 27 will be considered late unless the applicant establishes good cause for the delay, according to DWD’s announcement.

The program covers qualifying people whose unemployment resulted directly from the disaster and who are ineligible for regular unemployment insurance. Applicants must establish that the affected work was their primary source of income.

Applicants must first file for regular unemployment benefits. Those found ineligible can then complete the disaster assistance forms and upload them through DWD’s Disaster Unemployment Assistance website. Self-employed applicants must complete an additional form.

Applicants should gather their Social Security number, employer information and records documenting employment and earnings, such as tax returns or pay stubs.

DWD’s application page includes the required forms and submission link. For help, call 1-800-891-6499. The department’s Customer Support Center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time.

Collective Soul and special guest Edwin McCain will perform at the Fishers Event Center on Friday, Feb. 19, 2027, for the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation’s third annual Legacy Celebration.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m. through FishersEventCenter.com and Ticketmaster. According to the concert announcement, all proceeds will benefit Hamilton Southeastern Schools staff and students.

Collective Soul emerged in the 1990s with hits including “Shine,” “December,” “The World I Know,” “Heavy” and “Where the River Flows.” The Georgia band is led by singer, guitarist and songwriter Ed Roland.

McCain is known for “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask for More.” He released his album “Lucky” in 2025 and appeared as Nessy on the 13th season of “The Masked Singer.”

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation supports classroom grants, scholarships and other educational programs. The foundation reports that it has invested more than $4 million in programs and initiatives supporting HSE staff and students since 2001.

Ticket prices and a concert start time were not included in the announcement.

The Mudsock rivalry is headed back to the Fishers Event Center.

Fishers High School and Hamilton Southeastern will renew their annual basketball rivalry Friday, Dec. 18, with the girls game tipping off at 6 p.m. and the boys game at 8 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Tickets go on sale to the general public this Friday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m. at FishersEventCenter.com.

The Tigers and Royals have met on the court every year since the 2006-07 school year, when Fishers High School opened. Hamilton Southeastern holds the edge in both series. The HSE boys lead 10-8, and the HSE girls lead 12-6.

The Fishers boys and the Hamilton Southeastern girls will be the designated home teams this year.

Ticket prices are:

• General admission: $10
• Reserved loge: $25
• Legacy Club: $35
• Reserved courtside: $50

There is an eight-ticket limit per purchase. Children 5 and under are admitted free with an accompanying adult ticket.

The game’s name goes back more than a century. In the late 1890s and early 1900s, the area earned the nickname “Mudsock” because of its swampy soil. Residents could sink into mud up to their ankles, and their horses’ hooves would be caked with mud that looked like brown socks. The name stuck, and it now belongs to one of the most anticipated nights on the Hamilton County high school sports calendar.

The Fishers Event Center sits on a 53-acre site that expands the 18-acre Fishers District development. The arena is home to three professional teams: the Indy Fuel of the ECHL, the Indy Ignite of Major League Volleyball and the Fishers Freight of the Indoor Football League. It also hosts concerts, graduation ceremonies and local athletic events, and it is the largest private event space in Hamilton County.

Ticket information is available at FishersEventCenter.com.