The NeedThe West Lafayette schools operating levy, first approved by voters in 2010, expires in 2024. The levy currently provides 18% of the district’s budget. State revenue for the district is one of the lowest of 290 districts in Indiana.
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Maintaining class size and quality programmingThe success of students attending West Lafayette Community School Corporation is directly related to the quality and number of our staff members and the quality and number of the educational programs and extracurricular activities that we are able to provide. Our community has high expectations, and we have high expectations of our students. For the past 13 years, our revenue, including the local levy approved by our community, has allowed us to maintain excellent class sizes and programs. In order for this to continue, our level of funding must continue.
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A history of community supportThe current voter approved operating levy is 37 cents per $100 of property value, and expires in 2024. Expiring referendum funds constitute 18 percent of the district’s operating budget, or $7 million – the equivalent of more than 70 staff positions.
With the great recession of 2008-2010, the state of Indiana drastically reduced funding for public education. Many districts across the state made similar drastic reductions to their budgets, but voters in West Lafayette approved one of the state’s first operating levies in a referendum that saw 66% voting yes. When the first levy was set to expire, support rose to 94% voting yes in 2017 to renew the levy at the same rate. |
A history of low state support
Of the 290 school districts in Indiana, the West Lafayette school corporation receives one of the lowest amounts of funding per pupil from the state. State assistance for WLCSC is low because of the income level of district residents and high property values. In addition, a protection for taxpayers is a budget drain for school districts. In WLCSC, circuit breaker tax credits reduce the operations fund by 31%.
If state revenue in West Lafayette were the same as our neighbors, the local operating levy could be reduced. Lafayette School Corporation's per pupil revenue is $1,296 greater than ours, which, if multiplied by our enrollment of about 2,300 students, would provide $3 million. Tippecanoe School Corporation's revenue is $838 greater than ours, which would provide West Lafayette schools with $2 million.
We have proactively managed our finances. We know our buying power is less now than it was in 2010. Especially with the last few years of high inflation, our costs rose as well. During this time, through effective management of our finances, and efficient use of taxpayer dollars, we have been able to:
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