Dover School Board appeals county’s inside millage ruling
DOVER (WJER) (Dec. 22, 2025) – The Dover School Board is appealing a county decision that would block Dover’s efforts to fund an $80-million construction project.
The Board earlier this year agreed to shift inside millage, or mills not voted on by the public, from operations to permanent improvements. The move would have raised property taxes by the equivalent of a 4.4-mill levy.
The County Budget Commission did not approve, citing procedural flaws.
Dover Superintendent Karie McCrate says the district is appealing to the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals.
McCrate says the district will continue planning for a transformative pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade construction project, which could include a new building or additions to the middle school to replace lower-level schools. The millage shift would cover the local share and allow the district to receive state funding to cover about 60 percent of the cost.
The Claymont and Indian Valley school districts are also appealing the county budget commission’s decision. Their efforts to shift inside millage were also stopped by the commission.