Indiana public schools are swinging into full gear and with that, their financial books are starting to get published in the back pages of your local newspaper. Most of their financial information from a broad spectrum is posted on the state website and can be found in the Department of Education “School Financial Reports” portal.

The debt held by public education has swelled in recent years in municipalities. For numerous years, Indiana school boards were able to pass tax increases and spending agendas without much say from the public. Since 2008 school boards must get these items on a ballot for voters to decide.

Here are some listings of a handful of school corporations around the state and how much “total principal” they owe. Time period covered is July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013:

Brownsburg $188 Million

Avon $236 Million

Indianapolis Public Schools $642 Million

South Madison Schools $69 Million

Greenwood Community $20 Million

Plainfield Community $127 Million

Greenfield-Central Com Schools $96 Million

Carmel Clay Schools $153 Million

Zionsville Community Schools $200 Million

Fort Wayne Community Schools $133 Million

Rochester Community $13 Million

Seymour Community Schools $22 Million

Vincennes Community $31 Million

Lake Station Community Schools $15 Million

Tell City-Troy Twp School Corp $24 Million

Fremont Community Schools $5 Million

Vigo County School $58 Million