Barberton voters head to the polls Tuesday for an 11-mill operating levy that district leaders say could be the difference between keeping schools open as they are and sliding deeper into state control. Superintendent Jason Ondrus has pitched the measure as one piece of a larger financial recovery, but officials are upfront that the tax will not wipe out projected deficits in fiscal years 2027 and 2028. Millions in cuts and dozens of job eliminations are already lined up for next school year if new money does not come through.
What the ballot asks
The May 5 measure would add 11 mills to property tax bills, which works out to about $385 a year for every $100,000 of market value. The county fiscal officer estimates the levy would bring in roughly $5.96 million annually. It is a continuing levy, and according to the ballot language, collections are scheduled to start in 2026 with the first payments due in 2027, per the Summit County Board of Elections.
Planned cuts and the recovery plan
At a Feb. 19 special meeting, the Board of Education signed off on a Financial Recovery Plan that spells out about $6.63 million in reductions and 87 staffing changes. Those include 49 teaching positions, 33 classified roles and five administrative posts. The district's recovery workbook breaks the proposed eliminations down by position and outlines other expense moves aimed at narrowing projected shortfalls in fiscal years 2027 and 2028. The full list appears in the district's Financial Recovery Plan workbook.
State oversight looms
The state tagged Barberton with a "fiscal caution" label earlier this year after forecasts showed the district could run out of cash by June 2027. That status requires a formal recovery plan and monthly monitoring. If the money problems persist, Barberton could move from fiscal caution into fiscal watch or even fiscal emergency, steps that hand state-appointed bodies more say over budgets and staffing, according to WYSO/Ideastream Public Media.
Neighbors weigh the trade-offs
In living rooms and checkout lines around town, residents are split on whether the levy is a lifeline or a step too far. Some say the tax bite is simply too big for people on fixed incomes. Others say they are willing to pay more to keep programs intact, even if they are frustrated with district leadership.
Daniel Gibson told News 5 Cleveland he plans to vote no because he lives on a fixed income. Anthony Fortunato told the station he will back the measure anyway, saying he wants to preserve offerings for students despite his concerns about how the district has been run.
What a yes or no would mean
If the levy passes, the roughly $6 million a year in new revenue would give Barberton more breathing room and, according to officials, help delay the risk of moving into fiscal watch while the board carries out the planned reductions. If it fails, leaders warn that even deeper cuts and tighter oversight from the Auditor of State could follow, a scenario reflected in local reporting by WYSO/Ideastream Public Media.
When and where to vote
Polls are open Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with early voting available through May 3, according to local election coverage. Voters who need details on polling locations or the levy issue itself can contact the Summit County Board of Elections.
