Tax Letter Clarification

Revenue from the tax issue will:

• Keep current class sizes
• Preserve academic, arts, and extracurricular programs
• Provide services for students’ unique learning needs, including students with disabilities and gifted learning
• Maintain school staffing and avoid additional layoffs
• Ensure fiscal stability to prevent additional program reductions

Yes, the earned income tax will be a continuing levy.

All registered voters living within the Westerville City School District boundaries. Our District boundaries include all or parts of the following areas:

• Blendon Township
• City of Columbus
• City of Westerville 
• Genoa Township
• Plain Township
• Sharon Township
• Village of Minerva Park

All residents living within the District’s boundaries who have earned income or net self-employment income would pay this tax.

No. This is an earned income tax, not a property tax.

The proposed 0.75% earned income tax means individuals would pay 0.75% for every $1 or 75 cents per $100 of earned income (only on wages and net self-employment income).

Unlike a municipal income tax boundaries, those that work within the Westerville City School District boundaries, but live outside of the boundaries, would not pay this tax.

To estimate your individual tax: Multiply your Modified Adjusted Gross Income by 0.0075. Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is your Ohio adjusted gross income (Ohio IT 1040, line 3) plus your business income deduction (Ohio Schedule of Adjustments line 12).

Renters pay earned income tax on their wages and salaries—just like working homeowners.

With more than 14,000 students enrolled, our District is the 11th largest school district in Ohio and among the 14 school systems that have an enrollment of 10,000+ students. We compare by:

• Westerville spends on average over $400 less per pupil on administration
• Our administrators average salary is ranked 9th out of the 14 largest districts.

Our District continues to be fiscally responsible, which is evident by having clean audits and receiving the Auditor of State Award with Distinction for 13 consecutive years. The District also maintains a thorough review and vetting process for all contracts, uses the competitive bid process, purchasing consortiums, shared services, and regularly examines staffing levels based on student needs.  

To ensure community involvement in financial oversight, our District has a Finance Committee and an Audit Committee with community members who review financial matters.

No. The Win-Win Agreement between Westerville and Columbus City Schools was officially phased out in 2016. This ended the tax-sharing arrangement and permanently preserved the current and historic boundaries of the Westerville City School District. Of note, Westerville Schools has educated students from eastern Sharon Township, southern Genoa Township and areas as far south as Morse Road since the 19th Century.

While the Ohio Lottery contributes funds to education, those dollars are not “extra” money for schools. Instead, the state uses lottery revenue in place of other state funding, not on top of it. That means lottery funds do not increase the total amount of money schools receive; they simply offset what the state would have paid from other sources.

Yes. Taxpayers with earned income who were 65 or older during the tax year can receive a $50 credit on the Ohio school district income tax return (SD 100).