What this means for students and employees

MILFORD, Ohio (WXIX) – Teachers, faculty and students at Milford Exempted Village Schools could be affected by the outcome of the 2024 election after residents voted against a new tax levy.

On Tuesday, people living in the Milford Exempted Village School District were asked to vote for or against a 1% income tax levy to help the district keep up with the costs of inflation and cover additional needs imposed by state, local and federal funding is not possible.

The levy would have taxed residents’ compensation and net self-employment income at 1% — just enough to keep the district from cutting its budget but also from overfunding the schools.

However, according to the newspaper, 58.1% of taxpayers voted against the new levy 2024 Clermont County Election Results.

For tax purposes	Against taxation
10,715 votes	14,848 votes

Without the additional tax money, 30 to 40 positions could be affected by the vote, the district confirmed to FOX19 NOW. However, it is unknown how many employees could be laid off or who could be given a new role within the school system.

In addition to jobs being affected, classes may also look slightly different in the 2025-2026 school year.

In a written statement, John Spieser, superintendent of Milford Exempted Village Schools, explained what those changes could be:

Although the 1% income tax outcome was not what we had hoped for, our commitment to Milford students is stronger than ever. Throughout this entire process, the passion and support of our community has been inspiring, and I am deeply grateful for the dedication so many have shown.

We are incredibly proud of the school district we have built together and remain committed to meeting the evolving needs of our students. As we move forward, district leadership and the Board of Education are carefully implementing the adjustments shared at the October board meeting. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, these changes include transitioning to sister schools, aligning transportation with state minimums and introducing a tiered pay-to-play reimbursement structure.

We thank our employees and community for your continued support and advocacy. Your commitment highlights the strength of our district and the vital role schools play in our community. Together we will overcome these challenges and continue to create meaningful opportunities for our students to thrive.

According to the district, the elementary schools would reorganize into “sister schools” by merging certain classes.

Preschool through Grade 1: Mulberry Elementary & Pattison Elementary
Grades 2 & 3: Boyd E. Smith Elementary & Charles L. Seipelt Elementary
Grades 4 & 5: McCormick Elementary & Meadowview Elementary

“This restructuring would allow the district to optimize staffing and facilities, but would move students to new school arrangements based on their grade level.” school officials wrote in October.

Transportation to and from school will also be cut to meet only Ohio’s minimum requirements, meaning high school students and “younger students” who live within two miles of their school would be affected.

The district will also implement a tiered pay-to-play system, adding a fee for extracurricular activities such as arts programs and sports. Costs are adjusted based on how much the program costs and how many participants there are.

In October, Spieser said these measures are necessary to keep the district “financially viable.”

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