Dayton Ballot Measures: What Referendum Policies Mean for Local Residents in 2026

Four new ballot measures will go before Dayton voters on November 3, each carrying potential changes for daily life across the city and surrounding communities. The proposals include a city income tax adjustment, a bond issue for Dayton Public Schools, a county public safety sales tax, and a citizen-led referendum on property code enforcement. According to the Montgomery County Board of Elections, all registered voters within city limits can weigh in on the full set of questions, affecting over 105,000 eligible electors in the region.

Local Factors in This Year's Measures

This year’s referendum topics reflect ongoing discussions in Dayton around school funding, community safety, and housing standards. The city’s population, which the U.S. Census Bureau counted at just under 138,000 in its 2020 tally, has faced pressures from post-pandemic economic shifts, rising housing costs and policing debates. Policy analysts say the 2023 increase in code violations led to calls for more responsive property rules. Local advocates note that the safety levy appears in response to a 13 percent rise in auto thefts and property crime recorded by the Dayton Police Department last year.

Direct Impacts for Residents

For Dayton homeowners, the proposed property code enforcement measure would shift routine inspections from complaint-driven to a mandatory biennial schedule. City documents detail that this change would require owners of the city’s 31,000 single-family homes and 12,400 rental units to participate, potentially bringing added compliance costs or code upgrade requirements. Supporters say it’s projected to improve neighborhood quality, especially in West Dayton, where over 400 blighted properties were cited in 2025 alone.

The Dayton Public Schools bond issue, if approved, would authorize $98 million for renovated classrooms and new security infrastructure at five campuses. The school board’s budget briefings specify a tax impact: for households in the district, the average property tax bill could rise by $48 per year. Meanwhile, the city income tax ballot proposal seeks to reduce the rate from 2.5 to 2.25 percent, a move expected to lower municipal revenue by $7 million annually if adopted. Public finance reports indicate this may affect future city service budgets.

The Montgomery County public safety sales tax measure would increase the current rate by 0.25 percent, with funds earmarked for recruiting 32 new law enforcement positions and upgrading radio communications. County budget projections show $11.1 million in new annual revenue if passed, which officials say would be strictly allocated to policing and emergency response. These changes mean Dayton shoppers would pay an extra $0.25 per $100 spent in retail purchases.

Numbers and Next Steps

The official 2025 Montgomery County budget (adopted December 2025) anticipates the bond and tax measures could alter projected expenditures by over $18 million in the next fiscal year depending on outcomes. The Board of Elections has scheduled a sequence of public forums beginning July 15 at Dayton Metro Library branches to inform residents about the referendums. Early absentee voting is set to start on October 7. Policy analysts say residents should also check the city’s voter information portal and review sample ballots posted on the Dayton city website.

Should any of these ballot measures win majority approval, city officials say implementation would begin as early as January 2027, with property code changes and tax adjustments phased in according to the official texts published in the June 2026 Dayton ordinance register. Residents interested in direct impact details can view the ordinance language and fiscal analysis documents provided by the Montgomery County Auditor’s office. The Daily Dayton will provide continued updates as Election Day approaches.