Community for Cavs

What is on the ballot?

Chillicothe City Schools has placed a 0.75% earned income tax levy on the May 5, 2026 ballot.

Unlike a traditional property tax, an earned income tax applies only to individuals who are currently working and earning a paycheck; it typically does not apply to Social Security, pensions, or interest income. This ensures that the contribution is tied directly to current earnings.

What is at stake?

We must be transparent about the consequences of this vote. If the levy does not pass on May 5th, the district will be forced to implement an additional $2–$3 million in cuts in Fiscal Year 2027. These further reductions would inevitably and significantly impact core programs, class sizes, literacy support, elimination of preschool, reduction in secondary course offerings, athletics, extracurricular activities, and staffing levels—fundamentally changing the educational experience we provide to our students.

What would it cost?

A 0.75% earned income tax means 75 cents for every $100 earned (or $7.50 for every $1,000).

Examples:

• If you earn $40,000 per year, the cost would be about $300 per year.

• If you earn $60,000 per year, the cost would be about $450 per year.

This tax applies only to earned income (wages, salaries, self-employment income). It typically does not apply to Social Security benefits, pensions, or interest income. (source)

Why does the school need to pass a levy?

Since 2019, local, state and federal funds have not kept pace with inflation or the rising cost of providing a high-quality education. Federal relief from the pandemic provided a temporary buffer to local taxpayers, but those funds expired in 2024. Even greater burdens have been placed on the school when state legislators failed to fully fund the fair school funding formula this past summer.

Due to a significant loss of state funding, our district is facing a serious structural deficit. While we have worked diligently to remain good stewards of your tax dollars, the reduction in state support has created a gap that cannot be bridged by internal adjustments alone.

When was the last levy passed?

The last levy for operating expenses was passed in 2013 and expired in 2018. Shortly after the expiration of that levy, unprecedented funding was released for K12 education by the federal government to meet the needs of the pandemic. As such, the school district has not needed to return to the community for funding until now.

In 2015 the district passed a Building Bond Levy, which allowed them to build two new, state-of-the-art elementary schools, housing Kindergarten - 2nd Grade at Chillicothe Primary School, and 3rd - 6th Grade at Chillicothe Intermediate School. The 2015 building levy funds cannot be used for operating expenses.

What steps has the district already taken to reduce expenditures?

The decision to seek additional local funding is one we do not take lightly. Over the past two years, we have made aggressive and difficult choices to reduce spending while attempting to minimize the impact on the classroom:

• Last Year: We successfully cut $2 million in services and operating costs.

• Academic Year 2026–2027: An additional $3.9 million in reductions has already been finalized and will take effect for the upcoming school year.

Despite these significant measures—totaling nearly $6 million in reductions—the loss of state revenue remains a hurdle that requires a local solution. The reductions we have made have greatly impacted classroom sizes, student support services, classroom supports, preschool services, art and physical education offerings, athletics, safety resources, extracurricular activities, busing, and much more.