Superintendent Steve Lee announced a ballot levy for Maumee City School District voters. The measure would raise funds to cover an operating deficit. It marks the first district ballot request in eight years.
The proposed measure asks for a 1.25% tax. If passed, it would generate nearly $6 million. The district currently faces a $4 million fiscal deficit.
“We have come to that point as a school district where our expenditures are exceeding our revenue,” Lee said. “We are not seeing increases from the state or federal funding avenues so that puts us in this position to ask for additional revenue from our local tax payers.”
Officials chose an earned revenue proposal over property taxes. Legislative acts restrict that specific property funding option. Maumee leaders want stable financial operations for students.
“We know it’s a big ask, we have a lot of students who need a lot of support,” Lee said. “We need to be able to have stable funding to be able to provide stable programs for our students.”
The proposed rate applies to gross income earnings. Lee said an individual making $50,000 would pay $625 annually.
The tax targets specific earned income types:
- Wages
- Salaries
- Net self-employment
It excludes retirement streams completely. Pensions and Social Security would not see any taxes.
Money would maintain extracurriculars, bus transport and student programming. The revenue would also keep school nurses, teachers and support services. Every department remains vital.
Lee warned that district operations face deep reductions if voters reject the ballot issue.
“In a district our size you cant reduce 3+ million dollars without impacting all portions of the organization from class room sizes to course offerings, to looking at support for students,” Lee said.
Public school districts place levy questions on ballots to seek direct resident funding. Voters decide local tax rates through these periodic ballot issues. Approved requests establish steady funding streams for community schools in Maumee.
Staff positions and course options remain tied to the final election outcome.
