Westerville Podcasts To Hear Before Election Day. What "They" Say About The Tax. Scrooge Returns - Tickets On Sunday.
Podcasts Tap Into Westerville’s Tax Levy Debate
With a 0.75% earned income tax levy on the ballot Tuesday, several Westerville-based podcasts are helping residents make sense of the proposal and its stakes.
American Motherhood, a podcast known for pairing liberal and conservative moms in candid political conversations, has devoted recent episodes to local races and ballot issues in Westerville. Its “Local Series” includes interviews with school board and city council candidates, and at least one episode addresses the proposed tax for Westerville City Schools. The show blends parenting and policy, offering a grassroots view of how the levy is being discussed around kitchen tables.
Discovering Westerville, produced by the civic group Good For Westerville, digs deeper. It's series on the school levy that explores both sides of the issue, bringing in community voices and breaking down how the proposed tax would work. It’s one of the most direct coverages of the ballot measure currently available in podcast form.
We Are The ’Ville!, a podcast produced by Westerville City Schools, hasn’t directly addressed the levy but offers historical context relevant to the conversation. The first three, and so far only, episodes focus on how the district’s boundaries came to include parts of Columbus and surrounding townships. That story is told by Scott Reese of the school system, providing background on the district’s unusual footprint and how it may shape community perspectives on funding and taxes.
Together, these three podcasts help show how local media, formal and informal, are shaping public conversation around one of the most consequential votes in Westerville this year.
Proponents and Opponents Opinions
Yes For Westerville Schools
Supports the proposed 0.75% earned-income tax ballot measure.
Core message:
The school district is facing a significant revenue shortfall and risks losing more than $20 million without new funding.
Passage of the tax would prevent deep cuts across all grade levels — including reductions in staff, larger class sizes, fewer electives, less transportation, and fewer arts, music, and PE programs.
The tax is an earned-income tax, meaning it applies only to wages and self-employment income. It does not apply to retirement income, social security, or investment income.
It is not a property tax.
Supporters argue that rising costs, inflation, and state mandates have strained the district’s budget, even after staff reductions and other cost-saving efforts.
The campaign emphasizes protecting quality education, avoiding cuts, and maintaining current levels of programming. It calls on the broader community to contribute to school funding.
The campaign promotes transparency and trust in district leadership, highlighting clean audits and oversight mechanisms. It uses FAQs and myth-busting to address public concerns. The site also provides “Myths vs Facts” and FAQs, aiming to rebut common objections and reinforce transparency.
The campaign highlights fiscal responsibility: noting the district’s clean audits, awarded state distinctions, and oversight committees.
Concerned Citizens of Westerville
Opposes the proposed income tax ballot measure.
Core message:
Opponents claim the district is overspending while enrollment has dropped significantly.
They question why the district is seeking over $24 million in new taxes just months after claiming to have found $9 million in cost savings.
The tax is permanent, and critics argue it places a long-term burden on working residents.
They warn that the tax could lead to higher rents and increased costs for families, since all earned income within the district would be taxed.
The group points to declines in academic performance in certain areas as evidence that more spending hasn’t led to better outcomes.
They also raise concerns about reduced public input at school board meetings and what they view as poor financial oversight.
The campaign positions itself as a watchdog group standing up for fiscal responsibility. They argue that the district should live within its means rather than impose new taxes.
The messaging is direct and skeptical. It emphasizes data, frustration with past spending decisions, and a call for voters to send a message by voting no. The site uses strong language (“This district does not need more $$; they need to stop spending!!”) which underscores a skeptical, watchdog posture.
It invites donations and activism (“Donate now will save you thousands down the road”) and provides data and links to audits and spending reports.
Read School Board Candidates’ Responses To The Westerville News Questionnaire
Read City Council Candidates’ Responses To The Westerville News Questionnaire
‘Uptown Scrooge: Abridged!’ Returns to Java Central Café for a Seventh Season of Holiday Chaos
The fast, funny, and wildly interactive holiday hit Uptown Scrooge: Abridged! returns for its seventh season this December at Java Central Café. Presented by Good Medicine Productions, this 60-minute twist on A Christmas Carol features improv, music, physical comedy, and one major surprise: the audience plays Scrooge.
Running on Sundays, December 7, 14, and 21, with three performances each day at 12:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m., and 4:45 p.m., this lively show packs Dickensian chaos into one hour of holiday fun. From singing ghosts to audience-led choices, every show is unique, unpredictable, and full of heart.
Tickets go on sale November 1 at GoodMedicineProductions.org. Prices are $26 for adults and $16 for students and children. Seating opens 15 minutes before each performance, with food and drink available from the café.
Good Medicine Productions is a Westerville-based nonprofit dedicated to bringing joy through interactive theater—onstage and in hospitals, senior centers, and classrooms across central Ohio.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
Explore more hyper-local reporting by subscribing to The Hilliard Beacon, Civic Capacity, Marysville Matters, The Ohio Roundtable, Shelby News Reporter, and This Week in Toledo.
