Tallmadge voters head to the polls on Tuesday for a high-stakes decision on a 5.6-mill property tax levy that district leaders say is the line between “business as usual” and painful cutbacks. If the measure passes, it would bring in roughly $3.6 million a year to maintain current services. If it fails, officials say transportation, course offerings and extracurriculars are all on the table for reductions.
According to the Summit County Board of Elections, the proposed 5.6-mill levy would generate about $3,663,964 annually and is estimated to cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $196 per year. The ballot language describes the levy as a continuing tax that would first be due in calendar year 2027.
What the Levy Would Pay For
District officials say the additional money would cover everyday operating expenses - keeping teachers and support staff on the payroll, holding class sizes steady, and preserving electives, arts, STEM programs and athletics. According to Tallmadge City Schools, rising costs and reductions in state funding have put pressure on the general fund, and board forecasts on the district finance page outline the shortfall the levy is meant to close.
Talk of Major Cuts if It Fails
Administrators and local advocates warn that a failed levy would trigger at least $2 million in additional reductions for the 2026-27 school year and a move to state-minimum busing. Michelle Wiesen told WKYC, "There will be no transportation for the high school," adding, "half of our fleet is going to be let go. we will lose half of our bussing and transportation."
A pro-levy rundown of potential cuts from Citizens for Tallmadge Schools lists fewer electives, higher pay-to-play fees for athletics, elimination of non-public transportation and staffing reductions that could push class sizes higher.
What It Would Cost Homeowners
The Summit County Board of Elections’ sample ballot pegs the cost at about $196 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home and estimates the district would collect roughly $3.66 million annually if the levy passes. Supporters argue that relatively modest increase would help preserve programs that make the district appealing to families and, in turn, help protect property values.
How to Vote and What Comes Next
Tallmadge’s finance page lists absentee-ballot information and early-voting hours and directs residents to the county Board of Elections for polling locations. Absentee ballots can be mailed or hand-delivered to the Summit County office in Akron.
If voters approve the levy on Tuesday, the district would begin receiving the additional local revenue next year. If it fails, school leaders say they will move ahead with the cuts they have outlined to balance the 2026-27 budget. Residents can review the district’s four-year forecast and detailed levy materials on the Tallmadge finance page for the full breakdown.
