Q. What is the difference between a bond issue and an operating levy?

The bond issue can only be used for capital improvements, such as constructing school facilities; renovating, improving and constructing additions to school facilities, including safety and security improvements; furnishing and equipping the facilities; improving the sites of the buildings; and acquiring land and interests in land. The operating levy generates revenue for the school district’s general fund, which pays for the operations of the school district including classrooms, support for classrooms, utilities, business operations, transportation services and everything in between.

 

Q. Why do school districts like Westerville need to pass operating levies every few years?

The state continues to underfund its public schools, divert money away from public schools, and shift the responsibility of paying for public education to local taxpayers.

 

WCSD’s state share of funding has decreased by 20% since Fiscal Year 2021, which means the state has expected local taxpayers to pay more to fund their local public schools. As of the end of fiscal year 2024, the state funds approximately 27% of the school district’s general operations and local property taxes support approximately 64%.

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Additionally, the State of Ohio has underfunded our district by approximately $44.5 million over the last five fiscal years, while at the same time expanding its voucher program. In order for the school district to maintain programs and services as costs rise, as well as meet the growing needs of our students, the school district needs to ask voters for new taxes.

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Property tax levies are designed, through House Bill 920 reduction factors, to generate an amount of revenue based on when the levy was passed by voters. So even if property values increase, the school district will not receive any additional revenue from  previous levies with one exception. The only exception to that is the school district would receive new revenue from a levy for any new construction, which is not included in the reduction factor calculations in the year it is added to the tax rolls, as long as the new construction is not given a tax abatement (tax abatements mean the property owner does not pay taxes on the improved values).

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House Bill 920 was enacted in 1976 to protect taxpayers against rising taxes due to property values increasing. What that also means is that the school district does not receive increases in revenue that keep up with inflation and the cost of doing business.

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District voters last approved a ballot issue in 2019 which made the total effective rate for residential property 52.04 mills. Due to the effects of House Bill 920 reduction factors, the total effective millage for residential property is now 39.01 mills. That is a reduction of 13.03 mills.

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Q. People who send children to private schools still have to pay property taxes, correct?

Yes, everyone residing within the district boundaries pays the same tax rate. The district also provides various supports to private school students, such as transportation, extracurricular activities, and specialized student services.

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Q. Is the Win-Win agreement with Columbus still in effect?

No. An end to the Win-Win Agreement was negotiated and approved in 2016 that phased out the tax-sharing agreement with Columbus City Schools. This agreement also permanently protected and preserved the boundaries of the Westerville City School District.

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Q. Is there any tax relief available for senior citizens and others?

Yes, according to county auditors’ websites, the statewide Homestead Exemption Program allows qualified senior citizens and permanently and totally disabled homeowners to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the auditor’s appraised value of their home from taxation. There is also the Enhanced Homestead Exemption for disabled veterans and the Homestead Exemption for surviving spouses of public service officers killed in the line of duty. The exemption takes the form of a credit on property tax bills and residents can contact their County Auditor’s Office to apply.

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Q. Where does WCSD rank among other school districts in terms of administrative support for its schools and district?

Westerville City Schools is the 11th largest school district in Ohio and among 14 school systems that have an enrollment of more than 10,000 students. According to state data from FY23, we have a pupil-to-administrator ratio of 133.39-to-1, which ranks us 8th among those 14 districts. Out of the 605 Ohio school districts for which this ratio is calculated, more than half (397 districts) have fewer students per administrator than Westerville City Schools.

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From a cost standpoint, our district spent $1,885 per pupil on administrative expenses in FY23. That ranks us 8th among the 14 Ohio school systems that have an enrollment of more than 10,000 students. The average administrative expenditure for those 14 districts is $2,399 per year, so we are spending $514 less per pupil per year than our large district counterparts. For all school systems in the state, the average annual administrative expense per pupil is $2,083.

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Since approval of the last levy in 2019, the WCSD hired leadership teams for the two new schools that opened, as well as three assistant principals who provide support at five of the district’s elementary schools. The district’s leadership team was also restructured and professionals were hired to provide additional support in the areas of student health, well-being, and mental health; extra-curricular and co-curricular programs; communications/community engagement; student enrollment; career and college pathways programs; and school safety/security. Even with its recent restructuring and leadership team additions, WCSD compares favorably to large districts statewide regarding administrative support for its students, schools and the district as a whole.

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Q. What is the average class size for elementary and middle?

Class sizes vary from building to building, but average around 25.

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Q. Can we go on the auditor’s website to get an estimated cost of the levy for our home?

Yes, both Franklin and Delaware counties have levy estimators on their website. ​

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Q. Does the Ohio Lottery actually provide more money to the schools?

The Ohio Lottery money received is not new or additional money for schools. The state uses lottery funds in place of other funds that were already earmarked for schools. The lottery funds did not add to schools’ funding. The lottery funds are part of the district’s general operating fund and are not earmarked for anything specific.

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