Here is what you need to know about the proposed PLSD Income

Information you need to know about the proposed income tax increase for the May 5th, 2026 ballot.

Are you aware that PLSD is putting a 1.25% Income Tax levy on the ballot May 2026?

Read below for more details on how this will effect our residents.

Why are they asking for a 1.25% increase vs a more palatable amount. Just so you know, it will be 2.25% income tax not 1.25%.The property tax levy that's is set to expire is one of the reasons.

So, if they wanted to supplement the difference they should have asked for .20% or .25% increase. They would actually come out better because they don't get the full property tax levy.

If they would have proposed a .25% or even .35% it may not cause as big of a stir. But they got greedy, went right for the residents jugular with a 1.25% increase to total 2.25%.

While the economy is slightly getting better, and the gas prices are down, it doesn't mean we have extra disposable income.

Federal Tax, State Tax, City Tax, School Tax, and if you work outside of Pickerington, you're paying that cities tax also. None of which are going down. So keep in mind if you work in another city, they may be raising their taxes also. So it's not just a simple 1.25%.

Current Situation (Levy Does NOT Pass – As of 2026)

Current PLSD Income Tax Rate: 1.0% on earned income (this has been in place since 1991 and is continuing/permanent).

Tax Calculation: 1.0% of $50,000 = $500 per year (or about $41.67 per month if withheld evenly).

Property Tax Offset Note: Around the end of 2026, ~3.1 mills of existing district property taxes are set to expire. This would lower property taxes by about $105 annually for every $100,000 of home value (e.g., ~$315 savings on a $300,000 median home). This is a separate benefit that happens regardless of the levy vote—it reduces your overall school-related tax burden slightly starting in 2027.

Net School-Related Tax Impact (Income + Property Change): You pay $500/year in income tax now, but your property taxes drop by ~$105–$315/year (depending on home value) after the mills expire. So overall, your total school taxes decrease slightly due to the property side.

If the Levy Passes (Starts January 1, 2027)

New Total PLSD Income Tax Rate: Existing 1.0% + proposed 1.25% = 2.25% on earned income (also continuing/permanent, no end date).

Total Income Tax After Levy: 2.25% of $50,000 = $1,125 per year (or about $93.75 per month).

Net Increase in Income Tax: +$625 per year compared to current.

Property Tax Offset: The same ~3.1 mills expiration still happens at the end of 2026, saving you ~$105 per $100,000 of home value annually (e.g., $315 on a $300,000 home). This partially offsets the new income tax cost for homeowners.

Net Overall Impact (Income + Property Change):

Income tax goes up by $625/year.

Property tax goes down by $105–$315/year (home-value dependent).

For a typical homeowner (e.g., $300,000 home), the net increase might be around $310–$520/year (or $26–$43/month), depending on exact home value and exemptions.

For renters or non-homeowners, the full $625/year increase applies (no property offset).

Here are just a few of the suggested cuts that could prevent the income tax increase.

Potential areas for expense reductions (to lower costs and potentially avoid or reduce the need for new taxes) are common in growing Ohio districts facing similar pressures. These are realistic options districts often consider or implement, ranked roughly by scale of potential savings and feasibility (largest/least disruptive first).

Note: Cutting in core instructional areas risks harming student outcomes, class sizes, or the district's "destination" status, so boards typically prioritize non-core or administrative savings.

1. Non-Essential or Deferred Maintenance & Capital Outlays (Short-Term Savings)

Delay or scale back non-critical facility upgrades, grounds work, or equipment purchases beyond the recent bond-funded expansions (e.g., high school additions completed 2025, new junior high in 2026).

Potential impact: Could free up General Fund dollars indirectly used for ops/maintenance; growing districts often defer this to manage enrollment pressures.

2. Administrative & Support Staff Positions (Through Attrition)

Reduce central office or building-level admin roles via retirements, non-renewals, or combining duties (e.g., shared services with neighboring districts, as PLSD has explored in some agreements).

Continue/expand the hiring pause beyond current levels.

Potential impact: Personnel is the biggest expense; even small reductions here (e.g., 5-10 positions) can save hundreds of thousands annually without direct classroom impact.

3. Extracurriculars, Athletics, & Enrichment Programs

Cut or reduce funding for non-mandatory activities: sports (e.g., pay-to-play increases, fewer assistant coaches), clubs, arts programs, or field trips.

Shift some to booster-funded or user-fee models.

Potential impact: Common in deficit scenarios; saves on stipends, transportation, and supplies, but can affect student engagement and family appeal.

4. Transportation & Operations (e.g., Bus Routes, Utilities)

Optimize bus routes (already using new routing software per recent board items), increase walking zones, or reduce field trip/transportation.

Energy conservation measures or renegotiate vendor contracts for utilities/supplies amid inflation.

Potential impact: Transportation often rises with growth; tweaks can yield moderate savings without major service cuts.

5. Professional Development, Supplies, & Purchased Services

Trim PD budgets (e.g., fewer conferences, more in-house training), reduce supply allocations per school, or cut contracted services (e.g., some IT, maintenance outsourcing).

Potential impact: These are flexible line items; districts often target them first as "non-essential" during tight years.

6. Program Consolidations or Class Size Adjustments (Last Resort)

Increase class sizes slightly in non-core subjects, consolidate low-enrollment programs/classes, or review special ed/transportation efficiencies.

Avoid if possible—impacts quality and could drive families away in a competitive area.

These options align with what Ohio districts commonly pursue in enrollment-growth/deficit situations (e.g., attrition-based staffing reductions, program trims, operational efficiencies). PLSD's forecasts emphasize that without revenue growth, deeper cuts in these or similar areas would be needed to balance the budget long-term.

Where Would Pickerington's Proposed 2.25% Place?

Current: Pickerington Local School District (PLSD) has a 1.0% earned income tax (continuing/permanent, in place since 1991).

Proposed (if approved May 5, 2026): +1.25% = total 2.25% (continuing, effective January 1, 2027, excluding Social Security).

Ranking: This would place PLSD among the highest (if not the highest) school district income tax rates in Ohio.

Most districts top out at 1.5%–2.0%; 2.25% would be unusually high and outlier-level.

In discussions (e.g., local news and social media), some residents note it could be the highest in the Columbus metro area and potentially statewide (or very close), as few—if any—reach or exceed 2.25%.

For context: Nearby/peer districts (e.g., Olentangy, Dublin, Hilliard, Westerville) generally have 0.5%–1.5% or none. Higher rates are more common in smaller/rural districts with funding challenges, not large suburban ones like PLSD.

The district justifies it due to rapid enrollment growth, inflation, low state aid, and no new operating levy since 2011—positioning 2.25% as needed for stability but acknowledging it's higher than typical.

PLSD revenue facts

Here are some state funding and other PLSD revenue facts. Pickerington is among the top 10 school districts in Ohio receiving the most state aid.

The most recent estimates for state funding to PLSD are:

FY24: $66.33MFY25: $76.23MFY26: $81.45MOne can see those figures increase year over year.

PLSD will receive approximately $5,000,000 (5 million dollars) more in state funding for FY26 than it did in FY25. Add in the approximately $4,100,000 (4.1 million dollars) increase PLSD will receive annually from recent property tax increases (number previously provided by a current board member in another forum) and the new revenue total is $9,100,000 (9.1 million dollars) more in FY26. If recent trends hold PLSD will likely receive approximately an additional $2,000,000 in FY26 increased income tax with just the current 1.0 income tax residents already pay.

This is a total of an additional $11,100,000 (11.1 million dollars) in revenue for FY26 already on tap for PLSD without a new levy proposal to increase income taxes for residents by 125%-- which will generate an estimated additional $33,000,000 (33 million) a year per PLSD reporting-- and increasing yearly as resident's incomes increase.

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For anyone who wants to review the state numbers directly, state payments and appropriations to PLSD are publicly available below.

Summary School Finance Payment Report (SFPR) under Payment Reports for the chosen year.

Process Reports