HOME | SWL FOR KIDS

One Plan.

For Kids.

Two Parts.

A local initiative to reform funding for SWL Schools.

Southwest Licking is growing—and at the same time, the way schools are funded in Ohio has changed.

This plan is our community’s response: a two-part solution designed to protect our schools, plan for growth, and do it in a way that is fairer for our residents—especially seniors and future retirees.

Why is this happening?

Learn how the plan works

Why is this happening?

The System Changed. Our Community Is Growing.

Recent changes to Ohio law mean school districts can no longer rely on property tax growth the way they once did.

At the same time, Southwest Licking continues to grow; more families are choosing our schools; and, our buildings and resources are under increasing pressure

Doing nothing is not a plan.

This is about making a responsible adjustment now—instead of facing more difficult decisions later.

The plan

One Plan. Two Parts.

This proposal is not two separate ideas. It is one coordinated plan designed to work together.

Part One:
Earned Income Tax (Operations)

A change to a fairer and more sustainable funding structure

Replaces the current 0.75% traditional income tax with a 2.00% earned income tax starting in 2027.
Applies only to: wages and earned income only.
Does not apply to: social security, retirement income or investment income.

Designed to be more predictable and fairer - especially for retirees

Part Two:
Bond Issue

(Facilities)

A long-term investment in school buildings and classroom space

$80.71 million bond issue
Paid over up to 35 years
Estimated cost:
- 2.88 mills
- About $101 per $100,000 of home value annually

Supports building, expanding, and improving schools as our district grows. Recent changes in state law reduced property taxes in the SWL School district significantly. If this Bond issue passes, property taxes for most SWL homeowners will still be lower than they were in 2024. If passed, this measure will fund one new school building to address the district’s immediate need for additional instructional space.

Why both matter

You need both parts to solve the full problem:

Operations funding keeps schools stable
Facilities funding keeps schools functional and growing

Fairness and & community impact

This plan was designed with the entire community in mind.

For Seniors & Fixed-Income Residents

Retirement income is not taxed under the earned income model
Provides more predictability
Helps seniors stay in the community they built

For Working Families

Supports school quality and property values
Creates a system that makes it more likely you can afford to stay here when you retire
Plans ahead instead of pushing problems into the future