Cincinnati Levy: Voters Approve $66.3M School Tax

Cincinnati voters approved Issue 4 on Tuesday, authorizing a property tax levy that will generate $66.3 million annually for Cincinnati Public Schools. WCPO projections indicate the measure passed, marking the first new operating levy for the district in nearly ten years. The tax increase will run for five years.

The levy was placed on the ballot after the Cincinnati Board of Education voted to propose it in July. District officials had warned that rising operational costs, declining enrollment, and the expiration of federal pandemic relief funding were straining the budget. The board previously approved cuts affecting more than 100 positions to close a projected $58.6 million deficit. Those reductions included layoffs, retirements, and vacant positions across multiple departments.

Supporters argued the revenue was necessary to keep the district financially stable. Opponents contended that the current economic climate was the wrong time to ask taxpayers for more money. A household earning $100,000 annually will pay approximately $245 per year under the new tax structure.

State officials placed the district in fiscal caution status in September. This designation is distinct from a fiscal emergency, which would give the state control over district finances and decision-making. District leaders stated that the state-required recovery plan cannot account for the outcome of the levy vote. Therefore, the district must plan for potential cuts independently of the newly passed revenue.

The district must submit its recovery plan to the state by November 30. Officials said that without the levy and additional revenue, the district would face deeper reductions in staffing and programming in future budget cycles.