Pickerington Schools Moves Forward with May Ballot Income Tax Proposal

Jan 20 2026

Pickerington Board of Education Advances Resolution to Place 1.25% Income Tax on May Ballot
First Operating Levy Request Since 2011 Aims to Support District Operations and Long-Term Financial Stability

At its January 19, 2026 meeting, the Pickerington Local School District Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution of necessity to move forward with placing a 1.25% traditional income tax initiative on the May 5, 2026 ballot.

If approved by voters, the income tax would generate approximately $32.8 million annually to support district operations. The proposed tax would be in addition to the District’s current 1.0% income tax and, like the existing tax, would exclude Social Security income.

“New revenue is a necessity because we do not have the ability to cut our way out of this financial situation,” said Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer John Walsh. “Continued student growth requires either the repurposing of existing resources or additional revenue to maintain the same level of service. If we do not correct our financial condition, the Ohio Department of Education will increase its oversight and could ultimately assume greater control over our operations.”

The Board also directed the Treasurer to submit a resolution of certification to the Ohio Department of Taxation and the Fairfield County Auditor. Both certifications must receive majority approval before the income tax initiative can appear on the ballot.

Pickerington has not placed an Operating Levy before voters since 2011 — nearly 15 years without requesting additional operating revenue.

Why the Board Took Action

Over the past four years, the District has experienced deficit spending and is projected to reach a negative cash balance by FY2028 without additional revenue.

Board Vice President Mark Hensen said the District is facing increasing financial pressure due to rising enrollment, inflation, staffing costs, and growing student needs.

“We’ve had rising operational costs, increased enrollment, and much greater student needs than in the past,” Hensen said. “At the same time, we have one of the highest student-teacher ratios in the state and modest wage increases over the last decade that have not kept pace with inflation. If we want to preserve programs, transportation, staffing, and class sizes, we need to take action now.”

“This is an enormous ask of our community, and we know how difficult this is for many families,” said Board Member Brooke LaGrasso. “Families across Ohio are under real financial pressure right now, and public education should not be funded in a way that forces parents to choose between what they can afford and their child receiving more than a bare-minimum education. Our state needs to do better. But as a local Board, we have a responsibility to be honest about where we are and to protect the quality of education our students deserve.”

Currently, 84% of the District’s operating budget supports staff, including teachers, bus drivers, support professionals, and building operations teams.

Impact on Residents

The proposed income tax initiative would be a traditional income tax and would exclude Social Security income. This approach was selected in part to reduce the burden on residents who rely primarily on Social Security.

In addition, approximately 3.1 mills in property taxes are scheduled to expire at the end of 2026, providing an estimated annual reduction of about $105 per $100,000 of home value.

Board President Cathy Olshefski said the income tax structure provides a more balanced approach at a time when Ohio’s public education funding has increasingly shifted to local communities.

“The State of Ohio has steadily reduced its share of K-12 education funding,” Olshefski said. “That shift forces districts like ours to rely more heavily on local revenue. Given the current property tax environment, an income tax ballot is a more responsible approach.”

A Growing District with Growing Needs

Pickerington continues to be one of the fastest-growing districts in Central Ohio. Superintendent Dr. Charles Smialek said the District’s size and growth require a strong and stable funding structure.

“We are a large District with a large operating budget because we serve a large and growing community,” Smialek said. “But that doesn’t mean we have extra dollars sitting around. Even with this proposed income tax and the upcoming reduction in property taxes, Pickerington residents would still pay less in school taxes than many neighboring districts.”

What’s Next

If the required certifications are approved, the 1.25% income tax initiative will appear on the May 5, 2026 ballot.

Over the coming months, the District will share additional information with the community, including:

Five-year financial projections
Tax impact examples
How new revenue would be used
Cost-saving measures already implemented

The District has hosted a series of Town Hall Meetings to speak about the need for revenue enhancements, and will continue to provide opportunities for residents to learn more and ask questions.

For more information on the upcoming income tax ballot initiative, please visit PLSD’s website, where updates will be posted as they become available, or contact the District’s Public Relations Office.