Westfield Washington Schools Board of Trustees approves resolution for operating referendum

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.

“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.