The Riverside Local School District Board of Education voted to place a 1% earned income tax levy on the November 3, 2026 ballot at its July 1 Board of Education Special Meeting.
 
If approved by voters, this levy would generate approximately $13.7 million annually. The funds from this levy would address the District’s two most significant and timely needs: Infrastructure and Operations. 

 

Riverside is currently facing a dual challenge - a systematic structural deficit where expenditures grow faster than revenue, and poor, aging infrastructure that no longer meets modern educational standards.
 
Infrastructure:
A portion of the funding would allow the District to completely renovate the current Riverside High School building, including construction of a new academic addition on Campus to house students primarily in grades 7 and 8, and then demolish the current John R. Williams building. For decades, there have been conversations regarding the condition - and future - of Riverside High School, which is now 77-years-old and is the oldest high school in Lake County. 

 

Over the course of the past 20 years, the building and its grounds have been professionally inspected and assessed by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, Bialosky and Partners Architects and ThenDesign Architecture. All three firms investigated the condition of major architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical systems as well as identified deficiencies and prioritized critical needs to address. The overwhelming synopsis amongst those reports was that significant renovations are needed to ensure Riverside High School could meet the needs of students, staff and community members. 

 

The current high school is beloved by the community, which is why the District is aiming to renovate the existing building rather than rebuild. The community has previously expressed its desire to preserve the high school’s history, legacy and tradition. The District’s ultimate goal is to create spaces where every student can thrive while ensuring Riverside High School is a true hub of the community, through partnerships with various local organizations to provide meaningful amenities for all residents. 

 

If the issues passes, the District would ultimately be left with three larger elementary schools (Parkside, Riverview and a fully renovated and expanded Buckeye slated to be completed by August of 2027), an intermediate school (LaMuth), a brand new 7-8 building on Riverside Campus and a completely renovated Riverside High School (grades 9-12).

(Draft rendering from TDA)

Operations:
The second portion of the funding would allow the District to remain fiscally solvent for the foreseeable future. The District is currently in deficit spending despite being fiscally responsible and committing to approximately $2 million in savings in Fiscal Years 2026 an 2027. Over the years, Riverside has worked hard to consolidate services, share resources and reduce costs. The District was also hit with an unexpected $1.2 million loss from its budget last October when Lake County adopted changes to the Local Optional Homestead Tax Exemption and Local Optional Owner-Occupied Tax Exemption for the 2026 tax year. While the District is in support of the County’s commitment to alleviate tax relief to residents who fall under the Homestead Act, the recent legislation results in an unplanned loss of approximately $650,000 moving forward to the general fund. 

 

As currently forecasted, the District will be deficit spending by approximately $4 million in Fiscal Year 2027 and more than $7 million by Fiscal Year 2028. By Fiscal Year 2029, the District is projected to be in Fiscal Emergency. 

 

Deficit spending is not a result of fiscal mismanagement or spending beyond the District’s means. The District runs very lean and has also earned the Ohio Auditor of State Award for 10 straight years. 

 

The reality is revenue has not kept pace with the rate of inflation, and school districts are not eligible to collect more revenue from property taxes than what was originally passed by voters, even when property values increase, due to Ohio Law (House Bill 920). 

 

In other words, revenue has remained flat while inflation and the cost(s) to maintain operations has increased significantly over the years. The last time the district passed new operating funds was in May of 2017.
 
Earned Income Tax:
An Earned Income Tax generally includes wages, salaries, tips and self-employment income. It does not apply to Social Security, pensions, retirement income, unemployment benefits or interest or dividends. In addition, an Earned Income Tax Levy eases the burden on senior citizens and those who are retired and on fixed incomes. An Earned Income Tax Levy also captures non-property owners who can contribute to school funding. 

 

An Earned Income Tax Levy is only assessed on an individual during times when they are actively employed. Any break in employment (Retirement, Resignation, etc.) directly relates to a break in the Earned Income Tax. So while the Earned Income Tax levy is continuous, it is only applicable to individuals during their years of employment, unlike a property tax levy.

For the reasons above, the District is seeking an Earned Income Tax Levy rather than a traditional Property Tax Levy.
 
The median earned income of individuals living within the Riverside Local School District is $53,792, according to the 2025 CUPP Report. This would mean an individual making $53,792 would pay $537.92 per year (or $44.82 per month).