The Urbana City School District Board of Education, at a special meeting on July 31, 2025, approved a resolution to place a 0.75% income tax for a five-year term on the November 4, 2025, election ballot. The funds generated from this levy will be used to support the District’s day-to-day operations, addressing the ongoing financial challenges faced over the past several years.
For approximately seven years, the District has been experiencing deficit spending, resulting in a decrease in annual carryover funds. The latest five-year forecast indicates that, without intervention, the District will face a negative year-end balance within the next couple of fiscal years.
Recent Biennial Budget restrictions on certain levies, alongside other legislative actions, have created uncertainty regarding the future of property tax levies. In response, the Board has decided to pursue the approval of an income tax.
The last additional operating levy approved for the District was in 2008. Since then, a bond issue has successfully funded the construction of new school buildings; however, those funds are restricted to building expenses and cannot cover operational costs.
The approval of this levy will maintain current programming and allow the implementation of necessary improvements in educational services.
For any questions or concerns regarding this issue, please contact Charles Thiel, Superintendent, or Mandy Hildebrand, Treasurer, at 937-653-1402.