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Board leans toward 10‑year renewal of $48M levy; substitute levy and income tax options discussed
Summary
Trustees signaled support for a 10‑year renewal levy at $48 million for the November ballot and discussed substitute levies and a school district income tax as alternative revenue tools. The board asked administration to prepare a resolution for the next business meeting and to provide voter‑facing language for public outreach.
The Cincinnati Public Schools Board on May 5 moved closer to placing a renewal levy on the November ballot and spent an hour discussing alternatives that could affect the district’s long‑term revenue.
Assistant Treasurer Mike Guston presented levy options and an analysis showing a 10‑year renewal of $48 million was the simplest approach to “preserve existing revenue” while avoiding ballot‑language complexity that could reduce voter support. Guston and consultant data showed a substitute levy — a fixed‑sum question that captures future new property values — could produce modest additional revenue (an estimated maximum of about $300,000 in its early years) but yields diminishing returns each year as new values become part of the base.
Board members raised legal and communications considerations. Board member Lindy argued for a 10‑year renewal to avoid frequent ask cycles and protect ongoing programs. Vice President Bolton and others warned that substitute‑levy ballot language is longer and potentially confusing to voters. Board member Craig urged an earlier decision so a comprehensive voter education and marketing campaign could begin. The board also received a briefing on school district income tax options — a resident tax not tied to property values and in use in roughly one‑third of Ohio districts — including discussion of earned‑income versus traditional income bases.
The board did not adopt a resolution during the meeting but President Moffett instructed staff to prepare a resolution for the next business meeting. Multiple trustees told staff they expected to see a draft resolution recommending the renewal, 10 years, $48,000,000 on the November ballot.
Why this matters: The levy funds are a significant portion of district operating revenue; a renewal preserves current funding levels, while substitute or new levies carry different tax and outreach implications. Trustees said they want to avoid “levy fatigue” among voters while ensuring ongoing services and programs are not cut.
What’s next: Administration will prepare a resolution and ballot language for the board’s next business meeting and provide further financial modeling and outreach timetables.
