The Urbana City Schools Board of Education approved placing a new tax levy before voters during a special meeting held Thursday night.
Board members voted to put a 1% earned income tax levy on the May 2026 primary ballot. If approved, the levy is expected to generate approximately $3,152,128 annually for the district. The decision marks a renewed effort to address the district’s financial needs following the failure of a levy attempt last fall.
The move comes just months after voters rejected the district’s most recent levy request in November. That proposal sought a 0.75% traditional income tax for five years and failed by a wide margin, with 1,564 votes against and 796 votes in favor.
District officials noted that the newly approved levy differs from the previous request in structure. An earned income tax applies only to wages and self-employment income and does not tax retirement income, which board members said was an important distinction as they reconsidered how to approach voters.
Board President Taylor Armstrong provides comment on the proposed levy:
In other business, the board officially approved the hiring of Geron Stokes as the district’s head high school football coach. Stokes brings extensive experience, having led programs at Urbana High School, Minster High School, and Dublin Coffman High School. His career includes two OHSAA state championships and an overall head coaching record of 125–69, earning him recognition as one of the state’s most respected coaches.
A Urbana High School graduate, Stokes’ return represents a homecoming to the community. After playing quarterback at Urbana and competing at the collegiate level, he built a successful career as an educator and coach, emphasizing leadership, discipline, and accountability.
Armstrong provides a short statement on the hiring and what Coach Stokes can do for the program:
The board also approved several personnel items recommended by the superintendent, including:
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Loren Baum, teacher — retirement resignation effective at the end of the day on May 31, 2026
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Todd Charles — approved as an intrasub at the junior high for the 2025–2026 school year
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Macy Berner — Resignation as Assistant Junior High Track Coach
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Erich Hopkins — Resignation as Assistant High School Football Coach
District leaders say additional information about the levy will be shared with the community ahead of the May election as the board continues to evaluate the district’s long-term financial outlook.
