Westfield Washington Schools referendum set for Nov. 3 ballot with $38 million levy cap

Westfield Washington Schools voters will decide Nov. 3, 2026, whether to approve a proposed operating referendum that could raise up to $38 million annually for no more than eight years.

The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance approved the ballot language June 12 after the school board adopted the referendum resolution in a 5-0 vote June 9.

What voters will see

The ballot question would ask whether Westfield Washington Schools should increase property taxes for no more than eight years. The proposed referendum rate could not exceed $0.3941 per $100 of assessed value, and the maximum annual levy could not exceed $38 million.

The state-certified ballot language estimates that the annual property-tax bill for a median residence assessed at $450,000 would increase by $873 if the referendum passes. That is a certified example for the specified assessed value, not a projected increase for every Westfield homeowner.

The rate and levy are maximum authorized amounts. They do not necessarily mean the district would collect exactly $38 million every year or impose the maximum rate throughout the referendum period.

How the referendum advanced

The Westfield Washington Schools Board of School Trustees met June 9 at the district administration center at 19500 Tomlinson Road, Suite B, in Westfield. After discussing renewal of an operating referendum, the five-member board adopted the resolution by a 5-0 vote.

The Department of Local Government Finance issued its final determination June 12, finding that the proposed question complied with Indiana law and approving the language as submitted. That state review addressed the legal form and compliance of the ballot question; it did not approve or endorse the district’s spending plan.

What the district proposes to fund

The district’s filed spending plan estimates that referendum revenue would be directed annually to four primary categories:

$9 million for retaining teachers and staff;
$6 million for student health and safety initiatives;
$9 million for maintaining class sizes; and
$4 million for advancing academic programs and opportunities.

The ballot language also identifies school resource officers, counselors, social workers, mental-health supports, small class sizes, academic programs and staff retention as purposes of the proposed levy.

Those dollar amounts are estimates rather than a permanently fixed budget. The spending plan says the school corporation may amend the allocations each year and over time to reflect actual revenue and changing educational or operational needs.

Why the district says it is seeking the levy

The district’s ballot language says the referendum would fund educational and operational expenses related to reductions in property-tax revenue through its Excellent Schools → Excellent Community initiative. It links the proposed revenue to student safety, class sizes, student health and well-being, academic programs, and retaining teachers and staff.

Indiana Public Radio and WFYI reported in June that Westfield Washington Schools was among several northern Indianapolis-area districts discussing or pursuing a November referendum. The report attributed broader funding pressure to changes in Indiana property-tax and school-funding policy, including changes that could reduce previously projected local revenue for some districts.

What happens next

Voters in the area served by Westfield Washington Schools will decide the question on Nov. 3, 2026. A yes vote would authorize the referendum levy within the certified limits. A no vote would reject the proposed referendum.

The state determination says the school corporation’s most recent operating referendum was held in 2022 and passed.

Sources

Discover more from Interactive News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.