What Dayton Public Schools' Issue 4 levy would cost, and what's at stake

Dayton voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to approve a 7-mill continuing property tax levy, the school district's first request for new tax money since 2008.

By Richthrax · Oct. 25, 2026

Dayton voters will decide on Issue 4 on Nov. 3. The new property tax levy for Dayton Public Schools would raise about $14.6 million a year, according to the district's estimate as reported by the Dayton Daily News. It is the district's first request for additional tax money since 2008, according to the Daily News and Superintendent David Lawrence.

What's on the ballot

Issue 4 is an additional levy of 7 mills, according to the Montgomery County Board of Elections issues list. Of that, 5 mills would go to current operating expenses and 2 mills to general permanent improvements, which covers buildings and other capital costs. The levy is continuing, which means it has no end date. If voters approve it, collection would begin in 2027, according to the board's list and earlier Daily News reporting.

Some later reports put the revenue at $14.7 million.

What it would cost

The district estimates the levy would cost a homeowner $245 a year for every $100,000 of a home's value, according to the Daily News. The figures below apply that rate to other home values.

Calculations by The Despoiler, based on the district's $245-per-$100,000 estimate.

For tax year 2025, DPS's existing levies cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $1,095 a year, the Daily News reported. Landlords pay property tax on rental properties too, but none of the coverage reviewed for this story estimated how much of the levy might be passed on to renters.

How to check your own property: Look up your parcel's market value with the Montgomery County Auditor's Property Information Search at mcrealestate.org. Divide that value by 100,000 and multiply the result by $245.

Why now, and where the money would go

DPS spent about $280 million last school year and expects to spend about $19 million more than it takes in this year, according to the Daily News. Most of the district's money comes from the state. In July, the Daily News reported that the district's cash carryover was about 32% of its annual budget and was projected to fall to about 19% by the end of next school year. District officials have cited unstable state funding and rising costs.

Lawrence said the money would protect current staff and programs. "We will not be adding administrators. We are simply keeping programming and keeping people to push our progress forward," he told WHIO-TV.

If the levy fails, Treasurer Hiwot Abraha said cuts could include eliminating 200 positions, the Daily News reported. Lawrence told Dayton 24/7 Now that the district might also consider consolidating schools.

Report card context

DPS received two out of five stars on its 2026 state report card, the same rating as the year before, according to the Daily News. The district's career-technical education report card received four stars, the district said. Chris Kershner, president and CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, cited a four-year graduation rate of 66.7% in a column. WHIO reported that the chamber also pointed to a chronic absenteeism rate of nearly 44%.

Who's for it, who's against it

Opposed: On Oct. 14, the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce voted to oppose Issue 4. "Dayton Public Schools has not been a partner and now they want to tax the people and businesses in Dayton more money," Kershner said, according to the Daily News. He also said, "Our students deserve better, and our tax-paying businesses and families deserve accountability." In a guest column the Daily News published Sunday, he wrote that "the district has not demonstrated that it has exhausted opportunities to reduce costs" and urged voters to reject the measure.

In favor: The school board put the levy on the ballot. Lawrence called the chamber's position and its timing disappointing. He suggested the opposition might have a lot to do with the district busing students through the Greater Dayton RTA's downtown hub, according to the Daily News. "Any time we ask for money, it's for kids," Lawrence said. "Turning schools around is not something we do overnight." He told Dayton 24/7 Now the district has held two public levy presentations.

How to vote

Early in-person voting takes place at the Montgomery County Board of Elections, 451 W. Third St., Dayton. Hours this week, according to the Ohio secretary of state, are:

• Monday, Oct. 26: 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 27: 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday-Friday, Oct. 28-30: 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 31: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 1: 1-5 p.m.

There is no early voting on Monday, Nov. 2.

The board must receive absentee ballot applications by 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27. According to the secretary of state, the board must also receive absentee ballots by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.