Eaton School District 2026 Ballot Measure Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of a survey of 442 voters within the Eaton School District. The interviews were conducted from February 11th to 28th, 2026. This survey has a margin of error of +/- 4.54% at the 95% confidence level.

Voters in the Eaton School District held a strongly positive view of the district overall. A large majority expressed favorable opinions of the district and approved of the job it was doing in educating students. Most also believed the district was heading in the right direction, with confidence rooted in the quality of teachers and leadership, strong academic outcomes, and the community values associated with small-town school culture.

Voters were also broadly confident in the district’s financial footing. Most believed the district had the resources needed to provide an excellent education, though opinions on fiscal responsibility were more mixed, with a notable share expressing uncertainty about whether taxpayer money was being spent appropriately.

When asked to identify budget priorities, voters overwhelmingly cited attracting and retaining high-quality teachers as their top concern. Expanding career and technical education programs and maintaining strong fundamentals in core subjects like reading and math were also seen as critical priorities, along with maintaining safe and secure learning environments.

Before receiving any additional context, voters were nearly evenly split on a proposed Mill Levy Override. Support was modest and opposition was substantial, with a significant portion still undecided — reflecting a competitive and uncertain starting point for the measure.

After learning more about the specific programs and needs the measure would fund, support increased meaningfully. Information about expanding CTE pathways, adding Aims Community College Career Academy programs, and raising teacher salaries to be more competitive with neighboring districts each moved voters noticeably toward approval. The teacher salary comparison was particularly persuasive, as voters responded strongly to the idea that Eaton had become a training ground for staff who then left for better-paying districts.

The school safety component also generated majority support, though it was somewhat less persuasive than the education and compensation arguments. When voters learned the cost of the tax increase — roughly $9 per month for a median-valued home — support remained above the majority but dipped compared with responses to the programmatic arguments, suggesting cost sensitivity among some voters.

After receiving all the information, support for the measure climbed to a slim majority. Those inclined to vote yes cited teacher pay, career-readiness opportunities, and school safety as their primary motivations, while those opposed cited tax fatigue, concerns about affordability for fixed incomes, and skepticism about how the funds would be managed and spent.