Tallmadge board votes to put 1% earned-income tax before voters

The Tallmadge Board of Education voted July 15 to place a proposed 1% earned-income tax on the ballot, a change board leaders said would shift some school funding responsibility from property owners to residents who earn wages.

Chair (speaker 7), introducing the resolution, told the room that the tax would not apply to retirement incomes or Social Security. "This does not tax retirement incomes or Social Security," the Chair said. "So it leaves that stuff alone." The chair said the levy is intended to preserve academics, safety, transportation and student opportunities and to reduce the need to return frequently to voters for levies.

Board members debated the merits of a full 1% versus a 0.75% rate. One board member (speaker 9) said he was concerned the tax would take money "before they even get it" and could reduce volunteer support at election time. "I'm just very concerned that we are taking money before they even get it," the board member said, while another (speaker 1) said the district had to do "what's best for kids." The executive director of the Tallmadge Chamber (speaker 10) said earned-income taxes are "very unpopular" with local businesses but that he was present to support children and schools.

After discussion and public questions about outreach, the board voted to adopt the resolution to submit the 1% earned-income tax question to the district's electors (roll-call vote recorded as five ayes, no dissent recorded on the transcript). The Chair said the district will run an informational campaign with mailers, door-to-door outreach and Q&A sessions for residents, and offered to meet one-on-one with seniors worried about the effect on fixed incomes.

What it would mean: The board said the rate would remain 1% of earned income (not a flat increase in property taxes) and that total receipts would grow only if residents earn more or if population increases. The Chair framed the levy as a way to stabilize funding and reduce the frequency of future property-tax levies while leaving retirement and Social Security largely untouched.

Next steps: The resolution directs staff to place the question before voters; board members said they will develop outreach materials and a campaign explaining who pays and how revenue would be used. The district has not yet published a formal campaign calendar or cost estimate for outreach.

The vote followed other agenda items including routine approvals and personnel actions; the board adjourned at the end of the meeting.