School Finance | Barry Gardner on Property Taxes, Referendums, and School Funding

Barry Gardner, Director of School Services at Policy Analytics, joins The Insight Table to discuss the financial challenges and opportunities facing Indiana's public schools. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in education, including leadership roles in school finance and operations, Barry shares how his team helps school districts understand funding, evaluate financial trends, and make informed decisions about their future. The conversation explores how Indiana schools are funded, the impact of property tax reform and changing legislation, and the growing pressures on school budgets and capital projects. Barry also discusses school referendums, the challenges of maintaining aging facilities, and how collaboration between school districts and local governments can create new opportunities to stretch resources and better serve communities. Key Topics: Understanding Indiana's school funding structure and financial planning Property tax reform and the impact of SEA 1 on school districts School referendums, declining revenues, and financial sustainability Capital improvements, deferred maintenance, and long-term facility planning Collaboration between schools and local governments to maximize community resources Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Barry Gardner 02:17 Policy Analytics and Supporting Indiana Schools 04:35 Aligning School Budgets with Strategic Priorities 06:52 Understanding How Indiana Schools Are Funded 09:17 Operations Funding and School Referendums 11:38 The Changing Landscape of Property Taxes 14:00 How SEA 1 Impacts School Funding 16:17 Financial Challenges for Indiana School Districts 18:32 Local Income Taxes and Revenue Changes 20:56 School Spending and Financial Accountability 25:11 School Consolidation and Operational Efficiencies 28:57 Capital Projects and Aging School Facilities 30:59 Deferred Maintenance and Long-Term Planning 32:50 Opportunities for Collaboration and Community Partnerships 34:26 Using TIF and Shared Resources to Support Schools 38:20 Schools as Community Assets and Economic Drivers 40:32 Closing Thoughts