You said the last one was too much. Here's what changed.
Why come back after a no? Because this is a different proposal. The rate is lower, it runs five years instead of forever, and the budget cuts already happened. Every line below comes from the ballot and the board's adopted resolution.
May 5, 2026
of earned income
Continual. No expiration.
Failed, 5,788 to 2,520.
November 3, 2026
of earned income
Five years, then it expires.
On the ballot, after the cuts below.
smaller ask
Cuts adopted before asking again
of administration
of certified teachers
of support staff
The district adopted an FY2027 recovery plan before it came back to voters. It reduces administration by 13%, certified teaching staff by 7%, and support staff by 5%, largely by leaving positions unfilled as people retire or resign. Administration took the deepest cut. In total, the board has cut more than fifty positions over the last three school years, saving over $4,000,000 a year.
Over the past decade enrollment fell from about 4,800 to 4,000 students. This is not only a Wadsworth problem. Across Ohio, the share of school funding carried by local property owners went from 46% in 1991 to 67.5% in 2025.
Side by side
Rate
May 5
1.5% of earned income
Nov 3
1.0% of earned income
Change in the ask
May 5
—
Nov 3
One third less
Tax base
May 5
Earned income (wages, salaries, self-employment)
Nov 3
Earned income (wages, salaries, self-employment)
Retirement income
May 5
Not taxed
Nov 3
Not taxed
Duration
May 5
Continuing
Nov 3
Five years
Cuts adopted before the vote
May 5
—
Nov 3
13% administration, 7% teachers, 5% support staff
Result
May 5
Failed, 69.7% to 30.3%
Nov 3
On the ballot November 3, 2026
| Item | May 5, 2026 | November 3, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | 1.5% of earned income | 1.0% of earned income |
| Change in the ask | · | One third less |
| Tax base | Earned income (wages, salaries, self-employment) | Earned income (wages, salaries, self-employment) |
| Retirement income | Not taxed | Not taxed |
| Duration | Continuing | Five years |
| Cuts adopted before the vote | · | 13% administration, 7% teachers, 5% support staff |
| Result | Failed, 69.7% to 30.3% | On the ballot November 3, 2026 |
Resolution 26-07-98, adopted July 20, 2026, places an additional 1.0% school district income tax on earned income before voters. The certified ballot language filed with the Medina County Board of Elections runs the tax for five years, beginning January 1, 2027, for the purpose of current expenses. The ballot page quotes that question word for word.
The May result
May 5, 2026 · Wadsworth City School District · 1.5% earned income tax · official results
Seven in ten voters said the 1.5% proposal was too much. That was a clear message, and the district changed the proposal because of it.
See what changedNext
Now see what the smaller ask costs you.
Type your earned income and get your number by the month, the week, and the year, next to what May would have cost.