The Metropolitan School District of Washington Township is asking voters to approve a tax increase in the November election that would generate up to $24 million over the next eight years.
The ballot question continues the existing tax increase that voters approved in 2020, which adds 25 cents for every $100 of assessed value.
The referendum comes as school districts grapple with state property tax reforms that will reduce revenues and require districts to share property tax revenues with charter schools. It also coincides with a rising cost of living nationwide that could entice voters to oppose additional taxes.
In Washington Township, the district is making an early attempt to win voter approval before the current tax increase expires in 2028. If it fails in November, the district could ask voters again in 2028.
Cuts would occur in the 2028-29 school year without additional funding, which would be used to support positions the district has added over the past 10 years.
“Nothing about this renewal is about adding staff or adding programming,” said Washington Township Superintendent Sean Taylor. “It’s just about continuing what we’ve been doing.”
How much would the referendum cost?
Because the new referendum would replace the existing one, taxpayers may see little difference in their tax bill.
The district estimates that the new monthly cost to fund the referendum would be lower than the current referendum’s cost. That monthly payment would be $30.43 for a house valued at $300,000 —below the current monthly payment of $31.50, according to the district.
If the referendum fails, the existing referendum would still remain in place until 2028.
What would the referendum fund?
The majority of the funds — about $16.5 million — would pay for 300 existing positions, including school resource officers, counselors, teachers and administrators, according to Taylor.
Another $3.5 million would help fund social workers, a position the district has expanded since 2016. The district has placed social workers at every elementary and middle school while adding more to the high school, Taylor said.
An additional $3.5 million would fund career and technical education pathways in HVAC, biotechnology, and entrepreneurship, according to the district. It would also support performance, visual arts, and world language programs in middle and high schools.
Across the state, districts have embraced a variety of career-technical pathways as the state has shifted graduation requirements to elevate workforce training.
Which charter schools would receive referendum funding?
Charter schools that enroll students living within Washington Township district borders and do not serve adult or virtual students are eligible to receive money from this referendum.
Charters as a whole are estimated to receive about $357,820 from the referendum — an amount determined based on the number of students charters enroll.
Charters that opted to receive referendum funding are listed below.
What happens if voters reject the referendum?
The district could ask voters for a tax increase again in 2028 if voters reject the question in November.
If voters reject it a second time, the district would need to reevaluate all the positions it has added since 2016 while it considers reducing its budget by over $20 million, Taylor said.
The district warns that those cuts could produce larger class sizes and reduce special education programming, school resource officers, and mental health support for students.
Those cuts would occur in the 2028-29 school year if voters reject the referendum in 2028.
Who supports and opposes this referendum?
The Washington Township Parents in Support of Public Education political action committee has raised a little over $25,000 to support the referendum, according to the PAC’s co-founder, Leslie Bowles.
The group is sending mailers, producing yard signs, and texting voters across the district to support the ballot question.
Meanwhile, the conservative Americans for Prosperity group is organizing a statewide effort to oppose school referendums.
“The schools are important,” said Cody White, Indiana state director for the AFP. “But it’s also important to protect taxpayers.”
The election is Nov. 3. Early voting is underway until Nov. 2.
Contact WFYI Education Reporter Amelia Pak-Harvey at apak-harvey@wfyi.org
