Frequently Asked Questions

3. HOW HAS SCHOOL FUNDING BEEN REDUCED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS?

• The State cut $300 million from education in 2010.

• The State has reduced funding for students for MSDWT and similar school districts.

• Changes in state tax policies has resulted in substantial losses.

4. HOW HAVE CHANGES IN SCHOOL FUNDING IMPACTED WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP?

• MSDWT suffered a permanent cut in funding of $3 million as a result of the State’s $300 million reduction in funding.

• MSDWT has lost approximately $32 million as a result of the changes in student support funding over the past 5-6 years.

• MSDWT has lost approximately $10 million over the past ten years as a result of changes in state tax policies.

5. HOW HAS WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP BEEN FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE?

• Neutralizing the tax impact of two Operating Referenda (2003 & 2010) has saved WT taxpayers $74 million.

• The district has developed strategic plans that built or renovated facilities to meet the needs of the future in the most economical way possible.

• These referenda were decided via an open and transparent process and are a frugal and responsible request of our Washington Township school community. As a result:

- Property values continue to increase in part due to the quality of education offered by our schools. This results in increased property values and protects the investment homeowners have made in Washington Township.

- Improving school district facilities has resulted in Washington Township being a school district of choice.

6. HOW DOES THE FUNDING FOR MSDWT COMPARE TO OTHER DISTRICTS?

Washington Township is a very complicated urban school district and should be funded at a level that recognizes our needs. The complexity component of the state funding formula that supports our students has been reduced signicantly over the past ve years. Complexity is the funding component in the formula that helps address some of the greater needs urban school districts have compared to more rural and suburban districts. Our complexity dollars per student have been reduced from $1,363 per student in 2015 to an estimated $789 in 2020, a loss of $574 per student. Compared to our neighbors to the North, Carmel and Hamilton Southeastern, their losses are estimated to be $65 and $196 per student respectively. The chart below shows funding per student and highlights how less complex suburban school districts are receiving larger annual increases in funding on a per student basis than a more complex urban district.

Funding Increase Over Last 5 Years WT= 5.69% (high complexity) Carmel= 13.48% (low complexity) HSE= 11.77% (low complexity)

7. WHAT IMPLICATIONS DO CHANGES IN STATE TAX POLICIES HAVE ON SCHOOL FUNDING?

Below is a chart showing lost revenue as a result of the impact of changes in state tax policies in Marion County for 2019:

These losses of revenue occur every year for school districts and in Washington Township the entire $2.0 million is a reduction in revenue from our Operations Fund, resulting in signicant impacts on our ability to maintain our facilities along with meeting other needs to support our students.

8. WHY ARE REFERENDA NECESSARY?

The short answer is we don’t get enough money from the State to meet all the needs of our students or to provide all the academic programs our students deserve. For MSDWT to provide the academic programs and student support the children of Washington Township deserve, the district has asked the Washington Township community to support an Operating Referendum for the past 16 years. These additional dollars have allowed MSDWT to maintain quality programs, keep our highly qualied teachers and sta, and provide safe transportation for the 11,000 students that we serve each day and to provide additional support for our students.

Additionally, the State does not provide any money for building/renovation projects. It is left up to each district to decide how to best fund capital improvements. In Washington Township, like most districts, there is simply not enough money available in the Operations Fund to make significant capital improvements. When considering the nature and scope of improvements necessary in Washington Township, it becomes clear that an alternative source of funding is required. That alternative source of funding is a construction or capital referendum. Once a project is approved by the voters, we can then raise the necessary funds.

Liane Hulka- Alumni, Resident, and Parent

“Unfortunately, our state legislature does not adequately fund our schools. It's simply unacceptable to force our school systems to function with a bare bones budget. Therefore, it's imperative that we step up as a community and make an investment in the future of Washington Township. I'm a proud parent and graduate of Washington Township and a Board member of the Washington Township Schools Foundation. Our educational system in Washington Township should have the financial resources it needs to provide a sustainable, high quality educational experience for all our children. We shouldn't settle for just meeting the basic needs of our children - we should do all we can to ensure each has what they need to achieve their full potential. ”