WICKLIFFE, Ohio — After voters rejected a property tax levy last spring by a 2-to-1 margin, Wickliffe City School District is asking voters to consider a different approach this fall: a 1% earned-income tax to fund day-to-day school operations.

The proposed tax, which would begin Jan. 1 if approved in the November election, is expected to generate about $3 million a year for classroom instruction, staffing, transportation and other operating costs.

Superintendent Mike Chokshi said the district has not passed new operating money since 2015 and is now facing multimillion-dollar deficits as inflation drives up expenses faster than revenues are growing.

“Due to inflationary costs and our relatively flat revenue base, the district’s costs have outpaced the revenue that the district receives,

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