Here's Exactly What You'll Read on Your Ballot
Indiana law requires school referendum questions to appear in a specific, state-mandated format. Below is the complete, official language exactly as it will be printed on ballots across West Lafayette Community School Corporation this November.
For the seven (7) calendar years immediately following the holding of the referendum, shall West Lafayette Community School Corporation increase property taxes paid to the school corporation by homeowners and businesses to pay for maintaining school corporation programs and educational and school safety needs? The property tax increase requested by West Lafayette Community School Corporation is estimated to increase the tax rate by $0.5706 per $100 of assessed valuation for the calendar year 2027 tax bills and thereafter. The estimated increase in tax rate is based upon current assessed valuation and if approved may change based upon future changes in assessed valuation. The referendum tax levy will generate an estimated $16,100,000 annually to be used for the purposes stated in this question. If this public question is approved, the estimated increase to the property tax bill for a residential property with an assessed value of $250,000 (median residential assessed value in the school corporation) is $956 per year.
Certified ballot language — Tippecanoe County Election Board, November 3, 2026 General Election
Three Numbers That Sound Bigger Than They Are
State law requires ballot language to show the maximum legally allowable figures — not what the district actually intends to collect. Here's the plain-language truth behind each number.
$0.5706 Tax Rate
What the Ballot Says
The referendum will increase the tax rate by an estimated $0.5706 per $100 of assessed valuation.
What It Actually Means
If the referendum passes, $0.5706 will be the maximum rate state law allows the district to request each year — not the rate the district plans to collect. This rate will replace the current $0.37 rate, and West Lafayette Schools will levy only what's necessary to replace the revenue reduced by the changes in state law.
$16,100,000 Maximum Annual Amount
What the Ballot Says
The referendum tax levy will generate an estimated $16,100,000 annually.
What It Actually Means
Like the tax rate above, this is the legal ceiling — not the district's plan. The actual amount collected each year will be tied to what's needed to replace lost revenue, roughly $8.7 million annually, far below this maximum.
$956 Per Year, Median Home
What the Ballot Says
The estimated increase for a median-value home is $956 per year.
What It Actually Means
This is the state-mandated worst-case figure, calculated as if the district levied the maximum. In reality, most homeowners are already paying approximately $700 per year from the current referendum. For most households, the actual impact will be minimal — it may decrease, stay about the same, or rise by only a few dollars.
The Board's commitment
The district is asking voters to renew and stabilize funding, not to significantly increase your tax bill. The School Board has committed to setting the actual levy each year at the amount needed to replace lost state revenue — keeping the impact on your property tax bill as stable as possible.
Your Vote Protects What Makes West Lafayette Schools Work
Now that you know the real numbers behind the ballot language, help your neighbors understand them too. A YES vote sustains the academic excellence, personalized support, and proven results our students depend on.