school levies

Without additional local funding, these school systems now face millions in budget cuts expected to hit schools almost immediately.

For many Southwest Ohio school districts, additional funding from new levies will help them avoid sizable budget cuts in 2027.

The tax will bring in an estimated $66.3 million in additional revenue for CPS each year for the next five years, starting in 2027.

Issue 4, Cincinnati Public Schools' proposed five-year, 7-mill property tax levy, has strong local support, but its cost and timing has also drawn criticism.

Nearly a dozen Southwest Ohio public school districts have levies on the ballot. About half say they plan to raise student participation fees if those levies fail. Some already have.

Mt. Healthy, Princeton, Milford, and Clinton-Massie schools will face tough choices in the coming year.

Several districts say they needed to pass levies to stay afloat and avoid deficit spending.

Getting levies to pass has not been easy for many schools across Southwest Ohio. Tuesday's special election, however, proved to be a mixed bag.

Due to a lack of funding, some school districts have made difficult decisions with their finances resulting in significant staff cuts and the reduction of various academic programs.

Ten school districts across southwest Ohio will depend on voters to pass local tax levies in May. Many are hoping for more success after a majority of school levies in the area were rejected by voters last fall.