Vote NO on the JTLSD 1.25% Income Tax Levy

JTLSD earned just 2 out of 5 stars on the Ohio State Report Card — rated "needs support to meet state standards." The Performance Index sits at 50.3%. Only 28.6% of 3rd graders are proficient in reading. The 4-year graduation rate is 72.7%. Across the board, this district is falling short. That's not a funding problem. That's a results problem.

The district already receives state funding, federal funding, and local property tax revenue. It earned just 1 star in Graduation, 1 star in Early Literacy, and 1 star in College & Career Readiness. Before we hand over another 1.25% of every paycheck, where's the plan to improve outcomes with the money they already have? No business would give a raise to a department that's underperforming — and voters shouldn't either.

Show us results first. Then we'll talk about more money.

Your property tax bill already includes school levies. If you own a home assessed at $150,000 in Jefferson Township, you're paying roughly $3,000–$4,000/year in property taxes — a big chunk of which goes to JTLSD. Now they want a 1.25% cut of your gross income on top of that.

For a family earning $65,000, that's an extra $812/year — ON TOP of the property taxes you're already paying to fund the same schools. That's not "investing in education." That's double-dipping from the same families.

You're already paying for schools. This levy makes you pay twice.

The average Jefferson Township resident commutes 25–35 minutes to work. At $3.50+ per gallon, a two-car household is spending $300–$400/month just on fuel. That's before groceries, which are up 20%+ since 2020, and before utilities, insurance, and everything else that's gotten more expensive.

Now add $50–$70/month in income tax on a typical household. That's a car payment's worth of money — gone. The district is asking for this during one of the most expensive periods families have faced in a generation. The timing alone should be a dealbreaker.

Families are already drowning in costs. This tax makes it worse.

Montgomery County has some of the highest effective property tax rates in Ohio — often 2% or more of market value. Homeowners in Jefferson Township are already paying thousands per year in taxes that fund schools, roads, fire, and county services. Some retirees on fixed incomes are barely holding on.

An income tax hits renters AND homeowners. It hits young workers and seniors who pick up part-time jobs. It's the broadest possible tax on the people who can least afford it, in a county that already taxes heavily. At some point, we have to draw a line.

We're already one of the most-taxed counties in Ohio. Enough is enough.

JTLSD earned a 2-star overall rating on the Ohio State Report Card — "needs support to meet state standards." It scored just 1 star in Graduation, 1 star in Early Literacy, and 1 star in College & Career Readiness. The Performance Index is 50.3%. Only 15.6% of annual performance goals were met.

Before asking taxpayers for more revenue, voters deserve a full, transparent accounting of how current funds are being spent. If the district can't produce strong outcomes with existing resources, why should we believe more money will change anything?

1-star ratings across the board, and they need more money? The math doesn't add up.

An income tax is the laziest revenue option available. It punishes every working person equally — the nurse making $45k and the family scraping by on $30k. Meanwhile, the district could pursue state Fair School Funding Plan dollars, renegotiate vendor and service contracts, share administrative resources with neighboring districts, or right-size staffing to match actual needs.

Other Ohio districts have found creative solutions without income taxes. JTLSD owes taxpayers a serious efficiency review before coming to us with their hand out. If they've done one, they should publish it. If they haven't, that tells you everything you need to know.

Cut the fat before you come for our paychecks.