Which Columbus-area schools have income taxes
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Westerville's success at the ballot box Tuesday is the first new school income tax approved in Franklin County in over 20 years.
Why it matters: It likely won't be the last, as rising property taxes face increased scrutiny statewide.
How it works: Unlike city income taxes, Ohioans pay school district income taxes based on where they live, not where they work, per the Ohio Department of Taxation.
- Westerville school district residents will now indefinitely pay 0.75% on earned income, generating over $24 million annually to fund district operations.
Follow the money: The rate translates to $375 taxed for every $50,000 earned.
The big picture: As of January 2025, 210 of Ohio's more than 600 school districts had an income tax.
- Bexley (0.75%), Canal Winchester (0.75%), Pickerington (1%) and Reynoldsburg (0.5%) are the only other Franklin County districts currently levying income taxes, but on all types of income.
The fine print: Municipal and school district boundaries don't always match — which means people may live in Columbus but still pay a suburban school income tax.