Have questions? Email us at yes4tallmadgeschools@gmail.com
Have questions? Email us at yes4tallmadgeschools@gmail.com
Everything Tallmadge City Schools does is #ForOurKids. While the district continues to deliver strong educational outcomes and manage costs responsibly, a projected deficit by the 2027 means difficult choices lie ahead.
Without community support this May, cuts to busing and staffing may be required.
Passing this levy will help preserve the teachers, programs, and opportunities that make Tallmadge schools a place where every child can succeed.
Grab yourself a cup of coffee and listen in as Vice President of the School Board, Chad Davis and School Treasurer Jeff Hostettler discuss the financial condition of the school and how we got here.
Support our efforts with a monetary donation to the Citizens for Tallmadge Schools Venmo Account. This money will be used to purchase yard signs, postage and boost some posts on social media.
Please include your name, address and employer in the "What's this for" section of the Venmo transaction. Reach out to yes4tallmadgeschools.org if you would prefer to donate via check.
Without this levy, the district may need to return to voters with different funding options in the future—potentially including an earned income tax.
Unlike a traditional property tax, an earned income tax is based on wages. This means:
* EVERY wage earner in a household pays, including high school students who have jobs.
* The cost is tied to income, not home value.
* It impacts working individuals and families differently than property taxes
As shown below, even a modest earned income tax can add up quickly depending on household income. This is why the May levy matters.
This campaign is powered by people like you—parents, educators, neighbors, and alumni—who believe in the future of Tallmadge. Here’s how you can help:
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Before the start of the 2025–26 school year, Tallmadge City Schools proactively reduced staffing levels, including three senior administrative positions, through cost-saving retirement incentives and by choosing not to replace those roles. Following the failure of the November 2025 levy, the district implemented immediate cost-containment measures, including suspending all field trips and instituting a district-wide hiring freeze.
If the May 2026 levy does not pass, Tallmadge City Schools will face a minimum of $2 million in cuts for the 2026–27 school year. These are not decisions the district wants to make, but without sufficient state funding, they become unavoidable.
tallmadgeschools.org/districtfinance
We’ve explained House Bill 920 and the State of Ohio public school funding reductions many times, but the simplest way to understand the impact is through a real-life comparison:
If you go to work each year earning $50,000, you budget your life around that income—paying your mortgage or rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, and other family expenses.
You understand what you can afford because your income is stable and predictable. But what if you never receive a cost-of-living increase? Your bills would continue to climb, especially when inflation is high like it is right now. It would become more and more difficult to meet your obligations. HB920 prevents Tallmadge Schools from keeping up with inflation.
Now imagine doing the same job, with the same flat pay and the same responsibilities and increasing bills, but your employer suddenly reduces your pay. The State of Ohio is reducing the funding to Tallmadge Schools.
When that funding was reduced, schools were left without the resources to maintain current services, staffing, programs, and operations —although student needs, state requirements, and operating costs increase.
The District will need to make cuts in the following areas:
Transportation
Staffing
Programming
Athletics
Facility Use
Until the State of Ohio fixes the school funding issue, the schools need to come back to the community for support every 5 – 7 years.
About 80% of the budget goes directly to staffing—teachers, aides, and support services for students.
No. These funds will not be used for construction or facilities.
Tallmadge is a community of choice which means people move here for our schools.
Strong schools protect property values and make Tallmadge a desirable place to live. Whether or not you have children in school, investing in education strengthens the whole community.