INDIANAPOLIS -- Perry Township Schools are trying to drum up support for a November referendum that would give them $98 million for school improvements.

The money would be spread around the district's 17 schools, which are in need of new technology, advanced safety features and athletics facility repairs, supporters contend.

Tax increases have been a bitter pill to swallow for Hoosiers who already feel squeezed by the recession and property tax fiasco from a couple of years ago.

Still, supporters of the referendum said voters will approve a tax increase, if they think it is needed to help the school system.

"Our community will support this. I feel strong that they will if they understand it," said resident Vickie Carpenter.

Organizers said Perry Township Schools have needed some infrastructure improvements for quite some time, 6News' Sarah Cornell reported.

"If you see our athletic fields, they are sad," said parent Kim Mills. "It's embarrassing to have other schools come to our school."

Additional space is also part of the plan. If the referendum passes, both high schools will get 38,000 square feet of additional space.

"We have really crowded hallways, because every time I walk through, there are a bunch of students everywhere," said student Matt Martin. "It's kind of hard to get through them."

If the referendum passes, taxpayers would see the increase in their 2011 property tax bill. The amount of increase depends on the value of the home.

A home with an assessed value of $75,000 would cost its owner $3.58 more a month, while a $250,000 home would command $28.17 more each month.

"It all comes back to the greater importance of our community. Do we want well educated children?" said Tom Sponsel, committee chairman. "We know there's a lot of problems … with dropouts ... Our children are our future."

People who want to vote in the Nov. 3 election must be registered to vote by Oct. 4.

If the referendum doesn't pass this year, organizers plan to bring it up again next year.

In May, voters in two central Indiana communities voted down three school building projects by large margins.

Under new state law, school districts are required to put major building projects to a referendum vote.

Editor's Note: In response to complaints about our coverage of this story, specifically regarding the reference to "better athletics facilities," we have adjusted the story slightly. Supporters of the tax increase call for improvement and repairs to existing athletic facilities. Some felt that the word "better" implied new facilities, so we altered the text for clarity.