During the Aug. 25 Westerville City Schools Board of Education meeting, public commenters presented competing views on the district’s proposed 0.75% earned-income levy that the board placed on the November ballot.

Doug Krinsky, who identified himself as the organizer of a citizen group opposing the levy, told the board the proposal would “overburden working families” and argued the district is asking for more money than in the previous, defeated levy. He said the new proposal seeks $24.3 million compared with $20.8 million previously and criticized changes to district public-engagement practices following the earlier defeat. “Make sure you're registered to vote and vote no on this levy coming up in November,” Krinsky said.

Kevin Hoffman, who identified himself as a 43-year resident and co-chair of the committee supporting the levy, told the board the proposal moves the district away from property-tax reliance and focuses on earned income, excluding retirement income, Social Security, unemployment and investment income. “This levy provides a mechanism to deal with the inflationary pressures that have challenged public education,” Hoffman said, and pledged the support committee would educate voters about the measure.

A former student and Westerville graduate, Ellis Blackstone, spoke in favor of the levy from personal experience. Blackstone recounted programs and opportunities she said she received in district schools and urged voters to approve the measure so future students would have similar or expanded resources.

Board members did not take action on the levy during the meeting; public comment was informational. The board and district leaders noted the levy is part of ongoing budget planning and that, should a levy fail, they will review programs supported above and beyond legally required services and present potential reduction options at a future meeting.