Barberton Schools Face Budget Deadline: Residents Weigh 1% Income Tax Against Service Cuts

Barberton residents will cast ballots Tuesday to determine the financial path for their local public schools. The vote centers on Issue 5, a proposal to establish a 1 percent earned income tax that would generate approximately $4.73 million annually for a period of five years. The measure offers families a choice between paying a new tax or facing immediate cuts to programs such as athletics, preschool, arts, music, and transportation.

The district currently operates under a fiscal emergency declaration, the most severe level of state oversight. This status was imposed by the Ohio Auditor in September after the school board failed to balance its budget following the May rejection of an 11 mill property tax levy. To address the shortfall, the district previously eliminated about 70 teacher and aide positions, cutting roughly $7 million in spending, but those reductions were insufficient to stabilize the finances.

Residents hold divergent views on the new tax burden. Steve Despot, a Barberton resident, opposes the levy due to rising household expenses and existing property taxes. He estimates the tax would add $55 to his monthly costs and believes residents should not be responsible for correcting previous financial missteps. In contrast, Gail Klusty, whose son and grandson attended the district, initially planned to vote against the measure but changed her mind. Klusty argues that school provides essential structure for children and that the potential impact on students outweighs the added financial cost.

Superintendent Jason Ondrus cites several factors behind the financial crisis, including shifts in state funding, rising health care costs, and the expiration of federal pandemic-era funds. He noted that temporary pandemic funding created a false sense of stable revenue for many districts. Under state rules, the district must produce a balanced budget while under oversight, a goal officials say requires both spending reductions and new local revenue.

The proposed tax applies to earned income, including wages, salaries, tips, and self-employment earnings. It does not apply to Social Security, pensions, 401(k) and IRA distributions, investments, dividends, interest, or unemployment benefits. Consequently, retirees relying solely on those income sources would not pay the new tax. Unlike the rejected May proposal, this measure is a temporary five-year levy rather than a permanent property tax increase.

If voters reject the measure, the district must implement further reductions to meet state budget requirements. Planned cuts include eliminating middle and high school athletics and extracurriculars, removing preschool programs, and consolidating career technical education. Elective classes in art and music would also be reduced. Transportation services would drop to state minimums, meaning high school busing would end, and students in grades K-8 would only receive rides if they live more than two miles from their assigned school. Ondrus stated that final decisions on these cuts will be made in coordination with the state commission overseeing the district.