Referendum Liability Calculator

In Indiana, school referendums allow local voters to decide whether a school district can receive additional local funding beyond the standard funding formula established by the State.

Operating referendums are commonly used to support day-to-day educational operations such as:

• Student programs
• Staffing
• Safety and security
• Transportation
• Student support services
• Academic opportunities

Referendums are voted on locally by the community and are time-limited, usually lasting  a few years

An operating referendum is a type of local funding approved by voters to support the day-to-day operation of a school district. Unlike funding used to construct or renovate school buildings, operating referendum dollars help support the programs, services, and people students rely on every day.

If approved, operating referendum funding may be used for expenses such as:

• Student safety and security
• Teachers and support staff
• School counselors and social workers
• Transportation
• Academic programs and student services
• Other day-to-day operational expenses

Operating referendums are time-limited and must be approved by local voters. The proposed WWS operating referendum would replace the district's current operating referendum, which was approved by voters in 2022 and expires at the end of 2026.

The current referendum funding continues to support district operations.

However, changes related to state funding formulas, tax caps, assessed value dynamics, inflationary pressures, and SEA 1 have impacted how much revenue districts are ultimately able to collect and retain.

Additional financial breakdowns and historical referendum information will be added to this page in future updates as part of the district’s ongoing commitment to transparency.

Like many public school districts across Indiana, WWS is facing growing financial pressure. Over the past two decades, changes to Indiana's school funding system, including property tax caps, circuit breaker losses, unfunded property tax credits, growth limitations on operating referendums, and most recently Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1), have significantly reduced the amount of local revenue available to support day-to-day school operations.

At the same time, Westfield continues to grow. As more families choose to call our community home, WWS must serve more students, hire additional staff, expand transportation, and provide the services and supports students need to succeed.

As a result, WWS projects a funding gap of approximately $17.5 million in the coming years. Despite being one of Indiana's highest-performing school districts, WWS ranks near the bottom 10% of Indiana school districts in state tuition support per student, making local funding an important part of sustaining the educational experiences our community expects.

This referendum was placed on the ballot to give Westfield residents the opportunity to make a local decision about how to address these financial challenges and support the future of our schools.

If approved by voters, the proposed referendum would replace the district's current operating referendum, which expires at the end of 2026. Because the proposed maximum tax rate is higher than the current referendum rate, many property owners would see an increase in the school referendum portion of their property taxes.

To be clear, the proposed referendum is not an additional referendum on top of the current one.

The actual tax impact varies based on a property's assessed value and other factors, including Indiana's property tax caps and deductions. We're including a chart guide for homeowners on this webpage to provide estimated comparisons between the current operating referendum and the proposed referendum to help illustrate the potential impact for different home values. There is also a tax calculator linked above to help give an idea of more specific impact.

Public schools impact the broader community in many ways beyond serving enrolled students.

Strong public schools contribute to:

• Property values
• Workforce development
• Community stability
• Economic growth
• Public safety partnerships
• Community attractiveness for families and businesses

Schools also serve as gathering places for athletics, performing arts, civic engagement, and community events.

For example, WWS facilities provide space for these organizations in order to serve the Westfield community at large:

• Youth sports and activity organizations
• Scout and youth leadership groups
• Community and nonprofit organizations
• Churches and faith-based groups
• Cultural and arts organizations
• Educational and university partners
• Neighborhood associations and local businesses

Many residents choose Westfield specifically because of the strength and reputation of its schools, even if they do not currently have children enrolled

Many Indiana districts are currently experiencing increased financial pressure due to:

• Changes in state funding structures
• Property tax reform legislation
• Rising operational costs
• Transportation expenses
• Student support needs
• Staffing shortages
• Inflationary impacts

Districts across the state are responding in different ways depending on local needs and financial conditions.

Compensation is one component of school district operations, but discussions around future funding are broader than employee raises alone.

School funding supports:

• Maintaining manageable class sizes
• Retaining quality educators and staff
• Student safety
• Counseling and mental health supports
• Transportation services
• Academic programming
• Arts, athletics, and extracurricular opportunities
• Day-to-day school operations

Like many industries, schools continue to face competitive staffing challenges and rising operational costs.

For families, staffing stability directly impacts classroom consistency and student support.

For the broader community, strong schools help Westfield remain a place where families want to live, businesses want to invest, and students are prepared for future success.

This is one of the most common misconceptions about school finance in Indiana.

Construction projects, renovations, and debt service are funded differently than classroom operational expenses.

In many cases:

• Facility funding comes from separate construction or debt service funds
• Operational dollars for staffing and student services cannot simply be replaced with construction dollars
• Long-term facility planning often occurs years in advance based on enrollment growth and infrastructure needs

Westfield has experienced significant population growth over the past two decades, which has required additional schools, classrooms, transportation infrastructure, and facility expansion to serve students safely and effectively.

These projects are intended to support long-term community growth and maintain learning environments that safely serve students now and into the future.

It’s true there is a lot of construction happening. A majority of these projects were approved multiple years ago in order to make room for new Shamrocks due to the district’s growth, while also providing safe and updated facilities for students to learn in, staff to educate in, and for the community to access.