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MSD Washington Township

Every Panther, Every Day – Connected | Challenged | Celebrated

Protect our Progress

Sticking to Our Commitments. Seeing Results.

This guide is for every community member who wants to understand what's being asked of them this November — without needing a background in school finance to follow along.

The Washington Township Schools logo features a stylized 'W' and the words 'We Grow' and 'Panthers'.

 

This is about people – 
not buildings

 

A woman in a colorful patterned dress speaks to a group of children in a school gymnasium.

 

Washington Township isn't asking voters to fund a new school or add new programs. We're asking to keep the people and services already in your schools — the counselors, teachers, resource officers, and support staff that students rely on every day. About 300 positions depend on this renewal.

The system has changed –
our funding hasn’t kept pace

 

Image of leaky bucket

 

Indiana's school funding formula has shifted significantly over the years, and recent legislation (SEA 1) has made it harder for local districts to generate the revenue they need. At the same time, the cost of running schools — transportation, utilities, insurance — has risen sharply. The gap has to be bridged somehow.

This is a renewal –
not a new tax

 

A red circle with a line through it, containing the words 'NEW TAX'.

 

Voters approved this operating referendum in 2020. Indiana law requires it to come back to voters when the term expires. We are asking to continue at the exact same rate — $0.2500 per $100 of assessed value — that our community already approved. Nothing new. Nothing extra. Just a continuation of a commitment already made.

We believe an informed community makes the best decisions

 

A group of people pose for a photo at an outdoor event, some wearing race bibs.

 

We're not here to tell you how to vote. We're here to make sure you have the full picture — how school funding actually works, what a referendum is and isn't, what this specific renewal funds, what it costs you as a taxpayer, and what happens if it doesn't pass. That's what the five chapters below are for.

Protect our Progress

 

Myth vs Fact

Clearing up the most common misconceptions — and answering the questions we hear most often.

  • Fact:
    State funding covers most instructional costs, but it does not fully fund all district needs.

    • Funding is based on student enrollment (ADM)
    • It often does not keep pace with inflation
    • Local funding (like referendums) helps cover gaps in operations and programming

  • Fact:
    Operating referendums are a common, state-approved funding tool used by well-managed districts across Indiana.
    They are often necessary to:

    • Maintain competitive teacher pay
    • Preserve programming and services
    • Address state funding limitations

  • Fact:
    Many referendums—especially renewals—are designed to:

    • Maintain the current tax rate, not increase it
    • Have a predictable, transparent impact on taxpayers

    Districts typically provide estimated annual costs for homeowners so there are no surprises.

  • Fact:
    Referendum funds are legally restricted to the purposes listed on the ballot.
    They are:

    • Audited annually
    • Reviewed by the school board
    • Reported publicly for transparency​​​​​​​

  • Fact:
    If a referendum is not approved or renewed, the district may need to:

    • Reduce staff
    • Increase class sizes
    • Cut student programs or services
    • These impacts are often immediate and significant.

  • Fact:
    An Operating Referendum is specifically for day-to-day expenses, such as:

    • Teacher and staff salaries
    • Student programs
    • Transportation and safety

    (Construction projects use a different type of referendum.)

  • Fact:
    Many school districts across Indiana use referendums as part of their funding structure due to:

    • State funding limitations
    • Local economic conditions
    • Community priorities

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  • Fact:
    School districts continuously evaluate budgets and operate under strict oversight.
    However, the largest costs are:

    • Staffing (teachers and support staff)
    • Transportation
    • Utilities and operations

    Further reductions often directly impact students and classrooms.

  • Fact:
    Investing in staff directly impacts students by:

    • Keeping class sizes manageable
    • Attracting and retaining high-quality teachers
    • Maintaining academic programs and support services

    -->

  • Fact:
    Operating referendums are temporary and must be:

    • Renewed by voters after a set period (typically 5–8 years)

    This ensures ongoing community oversight and control.

Two women smile at the camera while seated at a table in a large room.

FAQs

 

  • An Operating Referendum is a local ballot question that allows voters to approve additional funding for school operations beyond what the state provides.

  • A Capital/Construction Referendum finances large-scale, long-term physical infrastructure projects, specifically known as “controlled projects” when they exceed certain cost thresholds (e.g., $15.5M+).

  • A Safety Referendum funds specific initiatives to improve school security and student well-being, often used to address rising security concerns.

  • No. This is a renewal of the existing $0.2500 per $100 of assessed value rate — not an increase. Your referendum tax line will remain the same as it is today. Note that your overall tax bill can still fluctuate based on changes in your home's assessed value.

  • Indiana law requires operating referenda to come back to voters for renewal after their term. The 2020 approval expires, and without a renewal vote the funding simply stops — even if the community still wants to maintain those services.

  • Yes. Around 50-60 school districts in Indiana are seeking referenda in 2026, largely due to the impact of SEA 1. Nearby districts include Carmel, IPS, Beech Grove, Decatur Township, Wayne Township, Noblesville, and Westfield. Unlike most, we are not seeking an increased rate.

  • Referendum funds are audited annually, reported publicly, and reviewed by the locally elected school board. They are also subject to the Indiana State Board of Accounts. Funds may only be used for the purposes stated on the ballot.

  • Under SEA 1 and recent state law, Washington Township is now required to share a portion of locally approved referendum dollars with charter schools located within the district's boundaries. This diverts resources that voters originally approved for WT students. In 2026, charter schools with students who live in Washington Township have to opt-into our referendum in order to receive those dollars - if successful.  In 2028 charter schools with students who live in Washington Township would have to opt-out of our referendum so they would automatically receive these dollars - if successful.

  • Use the Indiana Taxpayer Portal to look up your specific property's assessed value and current tax breakdown. The calculator on the previous tab provides an estimate based on common assumptions.

    Indiana Taxpayer Portal

  • Districts use referendums to:

    • Maintain competitive teacher salaries
    • Reduce or maintain class sizes
    • Support student programs and services
    • Address funding gaps not covered by the state

  • No. Operating referendums are:

    • Time-limited (typically 5–8 years)
    • Must be renewed by voters to continue

  • If not renewed:

    • The funding expires
    • The district may need to:
      • Reduce staff
      • Increase class sizes
      • Cut programs or services

  • A renewal continues an existing referendum at:

    • The same tax rate, or
    • A revised rate (if proposed)

    It allows the district to maintain current services rather than expand them.

  • Not necessarily. A renewal:

    • Often maintains the current tax rate
    • May change slightly depending on assessed property values

  • This varies by district, but it is typically presented as:

    • A rate per $100 of assessed property value
    • Example: “$0.25 per $100 AV”

    Districts usually provide:

    • Estimated annual cost for a median home

  • Local voters in the school district decide during an election.

  • Referendum funds are:

    • Audited annually
    • Reported publicly
    • Reviewed by the school board

  • No. Funds must be used for specific purposes outlined on the ballot.

  • You can find information through:

    • School board meetings
    • District financial reports
    • Annual budgets on the district website

  • Referendum funding helps:

    • Retain high-quality teachers
    • Keep class sizes manageable
    • Maintain programs (arts, STEM, athletics, etc.)
    • Support student safety and well-being

  • This depends on:

    • Local funding needs
    • Property tax base
    • Enrollment trends
    • Community priorities

  • No. Referendums are a common and state-approved funding tool used by many well-managed districts to:

    • Bridge funding gaps
    • Maintain quality programs

Stay Informed

 

Revisit this website for updated financial information
Subscribe to the Washington Township Schools Community Update newsletter 
Attend board meetings 


Ask a question
Email your questions directly 

Register to vote

Together, we grow Panthers. Your vote in November 2026 will shape the education our students receive for years to come.