Submitted by Westfield Washington Schools
The Westfield Washington Schools (WWS) Board of School Trustees voted unanimously at its regular board meeting on June 9 to adopt a resolution to place an operating referendum on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot.
If approved by voters, the referendum would provide local funding to support various initiatives, including safety, staffing, transportation, academic programming, and student support services.
The Board’s action comes as school districts across Indiana continue to navigate changes to state funding formulas, property tax legislation, tax caps, and inflationary pressures that have impacted local school revenues.
Atha
“Westfield Washington Schools has a long history of community partnership and support,” Superintendent Dr. John Atha said. “Our responsibility is to provide our community with clear information about the financial challenges facing our district and how those challenges impact students, staff, and schools. This referendum gives our community the opportunity to decide how we move forward together.”
WWS currently serves more than 10,400 students and 8,400 families across 16 facilities while employing more than 1,600 staff members. The district manages approximately $1.35 billion in facilities and property assets throughout Westfield Washington Township.
Financial context
District leaders say that WWS continues to receive below-average state tuition support compared to many Indiana school districts. According to information presented to the Board, WWS ranks among the lowest-funded districts in Indiana on a per-pupil basis when it comes to state tuition funding.
In addition, recent legislative changes have reduced the district’s ability to collect revenue at a pace that matches Westfield’s continued growth. District data presented to the Board indicated that changes to referendum and operations funding formulas resulted in more than $4.4 million in uncollected revenue between 2023 and 2025.
District projections presented during the meeting also estimate a funding gap of approximately $14.8 million in 2026 due to below-average state funding, property tax caps, and the impact of Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1).
What the referendum would support
According to the resolution and ballot language, referendum funding would support:
- Student safety initiatives, including the addition of highly trained School Resource Officers
- Maintaining small class sizes
- School counselors, social workers, and student support services
- Academic and essential educational programs
- Recruitment and retention of teachers and staff in a competitive market
- Day-to-day operational expenses necessary to support students and schools
District leaders noted that maintaining strong staffing levels remains one of the most important factors in supporting student learning, school safety, and student well-being.
Ballot information
The referendum question will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot.
Under Indiana law, the ballot language includes a maximum tax rate of $0.3941 per $100 of assessed valuation and a maximum annual collection amount of $38 million. District officials emphasized that the maximum annual tax rate would be established each year through the public budgeting process and approved by the Board of School Trustees. They also noted that the district does not anticipate needing to collect the maximum amount in most years.
Additional information, frequently asked questions, tax impact examples, and community engagement opportunities will be shared with families and community members in the coming months.
“We are committed to being accessible, transparent, and responsive throughout this process,” Dr. Atha said. “Our goal is to ensure every community member has the information they need to make an informed decision.”
For additional information about WWS finances, please visit the new Your Dollars at Work webpage (which will be continually updated going forward) or contact Westfield Washington Schools.
Vote NO — our taxes are continuing to go up every year and this places an unnecessary burden on us! Be fiscally responsible with the funds that you have now.
VOTE NO – Enough is enough. Schools do not have to look like classy resort hotel lobbies. Data shows the education for our children is declining but more and more money is being spent. Why? Get back to the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic and stop spending money on social programs, sports and fancy school buildings..
Without hesitation, this vote should be a YES if people want to see our community continue to thrive. The legislative changes at the state are forcing every school district to pass referendums to stay afloat. Do some research and be informed before casting your votes!
I join Barb and Donna with a resounding NO vote for more money for Westfield schools. I don’t have children or grandchildren in the Westfield school system so why should I have to pay more of my tax dollars to these schools. My parents did not have to pay referendum taxes for me while I was in school. I never vote yes for these added taxes. It’s time to get our NO signs out and protest peacefully. Enough is enough.
Vote YES for Excellence! A YES vote for the Westfield Washington Schools referendum is a vote for student safety, outstanding educators, and the future of our community. Despite being one of Indiana’s highest-performing school districts, WWS receives among the lowest per-student funding in the state. This isn’t about building new schools or athletic facilities—it’s about investing in people. Referendum funds will support a highly trained School Resource Officer in every school, every day; more counselors and student supports; small class sizes; and competitive compensation to attract and retain great educators. Strong schools create strong communities. Excellent Schools >> Excellent Community.
Recently, I analyzed my Westfield home property tax increases on years paid from 2021 thru 2025 over tax paid in 2020. (These taxes paid were pre-SEA 1 reform.) My taxes increased an annual average of 6.5%. (For fun, I analyzed 3 neighbors and learned theirs increased even more at 7 to 8.5%… don’t know why the difference.)
The proposed referendum replaces the current Operating Referendum Fund rate approved in 2022 that’s $.17 per $100 assessed value which otherwise has 4 more years… and was advertised in 2022 as beneficial because it reduced the previous rate that had only been approved just a couple years earlier. (So much for promises made vs. promises kept.) This latest referendum tax increase (as they come along) is a more than 230% increase at $.3941 over the latest version.
But, Folks, that’s only HALF of your Referendum approved extra taxes… Voters approved a School Debt Referendum in 2017 (running thru 2038) that authorizes the schools to charge as much as $.3079 per $100. If the current request is approved, the schools can charge Westfield homeowners as much as $.702 per $100 of assessed value without further approval.
What drives our school property tax increases? Increased assessed valuation! What drives increased assessed valuation? Increased school desirability! What drives increased school desirability? Increased school taxes paid! What drives increased school taxes? Increased assessed valuation! What drives increased assessed valuation? Increased school desirability! (Wash, rinse, repeat.)
If you want to get off the crazy train, vote no. If you can afford a 6.5% to 8.5% yearly home property tax increase, then vote yes. (It’s not complicated.)
As long as my money keeps getting funneled to charter school’s CEOs for ghost students that do not attend the school district, I am all for doing free PR and propaganda for charter school fraud!
Thanks Indiana politicians for lining your pockets to allow rich families subsidies on the private schooling they can already afford.
One paragraph says a $14 million shortfall. Another paragraph indicates the increase could be as high as $38 million. I think we need more info on why a $24 million increase over the amount of lost funding,