Wadsworth schools face sweeping cuts after voters reject income tax again

Wadsworth schools are facing sweeping cuts after voters rejected the district’s earned income tax for a second time Tuesday. Speaking with Wadsworth Community Radio Wednesday morning, Superintendent Dr. Andy Hill said he isn’t sure why the issue failed again. One possibility, he said, is that families are stretched financially and don’t feel they can afford to give any more.

Hill said sweeping cuts are coming, but where those cuts will fall is not yet known. The school board will discuss its next steps over its upcoming meetings.

Unofficial Medina County results show 56.85% voted against the school tax, with 7,457 opposed and 5,661 in favor.

Voters support fire and EMS funding
While the school request failed, Wadsworth voters approved both city safety-service issues.

The fire levy, a renewal and decrease, passed with 66.16% support. The EMS levy, a renewal and increase, received 57.47%.

Nearby school districts see mixed results
Wadsworth wasn’t alone in seeing a school income tax voted down. Unofficial Summit County returns showed about 60% opposed Norton’s request and 62% opposed Barberton’s.

Tallmadge’s school income tax received nearly 53% support, while Stow-Munroe Falls’ renewal had about 57%. Cuyahoga Falls’ additional school levy held a much narrower advantage—just 352 votes in the returns reported Wednesday morning.

Norton and Barberton approve some city changes
In Norton, voters also rejected salary increases for the mayor and City Council members.

They approved three charter changes: placing the finance and law departments under the city administrator, changing the chief legal officer’s title, and increasing the dollar amount of contracts that can be awarded without Board of Control approval.

Barberton voters approved creating a Parks and Recreation Department under the city’s director of public service. They rejected two other charter amendments, one concerning where public notices must be posted and another that would have required nonpartisan elections.

Emergency-service requests get mixed responses
Across Medina County, several communities supported emergency-service funding.

Guilford Township’s EMS renewal received about 68% support, and Sharon Township’s fire and EMS renewal received roughly 69%. An additional levy for the Westfield Joint Fire and EMS District passed with about 56%.

Liverpool Township voters supported a fire and EMS renewal but rejected an additional levy. Litchfield Township voters rejected additional fire and EMS funding while narrowly supporting a road levy renewal.

Medina County reported turnout of 65.33%, with 86,541 ballots cast. All 124 precincts had reported.

Election results remain unofficial pending the review of outstanding ballots and certification.