Ballot question
Westfield Washington Schools (Local Public Question)
- On the ballot in
- Westfield-Washington Schools
- Vote
- Yes or no
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
The question, as printed on the ballot
Shall Westfield Washington Schools increase property taxes paid to the school corporation for no more than eight (8) years for the purpose of funding educational and operational expenses due to reductions in property tax revenue through the Excellent Schools -> Excellent Community initiative including student safety by the addition of School Resource Officers in each school; maintaining small class sizes; advancing student health and well-being by adding school counselors, social workers, and mental health supports; advancing academic and essential programs to meet the educational needs of all students; and supporting and retaining teachers and staff by imposing a property tax rate that does not exceed $0.3941 and results in a maximum annual amount that does not exceed $38,000,000? If this operating referendum public question is approved by the voters, for a median residence of $450,000 the property's annual property tax bill would increase by $873 per year. The most recent operating referendum public question proposed by the school corporation was held in 2022 and passed.
A “Yes” vote means
Replaces Westfield Washington's expiring 2022 referendum with a levy of up to $0.3941 per $100 of assessed value (at most $38 million a year) for eight years, for staff, class sizes and safety.
A “No” vote means
No new levy is approved; Westfield Washington's current 17-cent operating referendum, approved in 2022, expires at the end of 2026.
Official plain English statement
Westfield Washington Schools asks voters to approve an eight-year operating referendum of up to $0.3941 per $100 of assessed value (no more than $38 million a year) to replace the 17-cent referendum voters approved in 2022, which expires at the end of 2026. The money would go to retaining teachers and staff, class sizes, student health and safety, including school resource officers in each school, and academic programs; the district projects an initial rate of $0.3381.
On the ballot as "WESTFIELD WASHINGTON SCHOOLS" (Local Public Question), for voters in Westfield Washington Schools (Washington Township, Hamilton County). The spending plan estimates $9 million for retaining teachers and staff, $9 million for class sizes, $6 million for student health and safety and $4 million for academic programs; the district says the ballot's $873 figure assumes the maximum rate and ignores the referendum taxpayers pay now.
Sources
- Who and What Is on My Ballot: the official ballot of every precinct, 2026 General Election · Indiana Election Division (Indiana Voter Portal)
- Findings and Final Determination on Proposed Question: Westfield Washington Schools operating referendum (No. 26-007) · Indiana Department of Local Government Finance
- Westfield Washington Schools Proposed Revenue Spending Plan (2026 operating referendum) · Westfield Washington Schools (filed with the Department of Local Government Finance)
- Excellent Schools >> Excellent Community: Information About the WWS Operating Referendum · Westfield Washington Schools
The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.