Fairfield City Schools is warning families to brace for some serious belt-tightening next year if voters say no to a proposed 1.25% school district earned income tax on the May 5 ballot. District leaders say they would need to carve about $4.5 million out of the budget, which could ripple from classroom staffing to student supports and extracurriculars, including English-learner tutoring and field trips.
The school board in January signed off on a financial-reduction package and voted to place the 1.25% earned income tax on the May ballot to help close a multi-million-dollar operating gap, according to Journal-News. Officials say the proposal is a response to the sunset of federal COVID relief dollars and flat state funding that have together widened the district's budget hole.
What Would Be Cut
The district's "tier-one" reduction list runs about two dozen items deep and would total roughly $4.5 million if the levy fails. The plan calls for eliminating 15 full-time teaching positions through attrition, which is expected to save about $1,665,000, cutting building budgets by about 10% and ending all school field trips, according to WCPO. Curriculum staff, some administrative roles, and district-paid AP and PSAT testing are also on the chopping block. One parent told WCPO he is particularly worried that orchestra and other tier-one programs could be squeezed if the cuts move forward.
District Leaders Stress Tough Choices
"We are hoping for the best, but we have to prepare for the worst," Superintendent Billy Smith said. He noted that the board has already trimmed about 26 positions over the last three years and plans to reduce another 15-20 positions through attrition, according to WCPO. Smith told reporters the 1.25% earned income tax, if approved, would let the district substantially maintain current programs and services through June 30, 2031.
Public Meetings And Reaction
To show how the numbers shake out, school officials have hosted a series of public feedback sessions where residents can see the projections and talk through priorities. The meetings were billed as informational sessions, not a campaign push, FOX19 reports. Nearly 100 residents broke into small groups to weigh in on where cuts should land if the tax fails, raising questions about transportation, sports, arts programs and fee waivers.
Timeline And What Voters Should Know
The board's January resolution formally certified the 1.25% rate and directed the treasurer to send the measure to the Butler County Board of Elections for the May 5 primary. The resolution states the tax would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, if voters give it the green light. The full resolution and timeline are posted in the Fairfield City Schools agenda. Local reporting notes Fairfield has not passed an operating levy since 2011 and is projecting about a $9.4 million shortfall this fiscal year, figures that district leaders say are driving the current request, according to the Journal-News.
Next Steps
Officials say community feedback from the recent engagement sessions will be compiled into a proposed reduction list that will come back to the board before any final decisions are made. The district will continue following the legal calendar for certification and ballot deadlines. Over the next two months, board actions, scheduled meetings, and voters' decisions will determine whether programs and positions are preserved or trimmed ahead of the 2026-27 school year, FOX19 reports.
