CPS board adopts 2025 modified tax budget, approves early tax payments and organizational business; elects Moffett president, Bolton vice president

The Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education on Jan. 8 approved a modified tax budget for calendar year 2025, authorized the treasurer to seek early monthly tax distributions from the Hamilton County Auditor, adopted organizational meeting business (committee appointments and liaisons), and elected Dr. Kareem Moffett as board president and Eve Bolton as vice president.

The tax budget hearing preceded the organizational business. Kevin Ashley, director of financial reporting and transparency, summarized the district submission and told the board, “The tax budget is prepared in response to requirements of the Ohio revised code and conforms with the modified or alternative tax budget reporting requirements provided by the Hamilton County Auditor.” The board had requested the county’s modified reporting approach; Ashley said that approach is typically allowed when a district is not moving inside millage and that the tax budget helps the Hamilton County Budget Commission review next year’s property-tax revenue rates.

The board then considered formal votes. Finance Committee chairboard member Craig submitted a resolution to approve the modified tax budget; Member Mapp seconded the resolution. The item passed on roll call with the board recording affirmative votes and no dissent. The board then approved a related resolution authorizing the treasurer to request advanced monthly tax distributions from the Hamilton County Auditor so collected property-tax receipts are transferred to district accounts promptly. Treasurer Wagner explained the mechanics: “So, what this does is it allows, the allows us to request from the Hamilton County Auditor to, once they collect property taxes, to give it to us immediately. So it's in our bank accounts and not their bank accounts.” That motion, offered by Mister Craig and seconded by Doctor Moffett, passed on roll call.

After completing the tax budget items, the board moved into its organizational meeting business. The board adopted the slate of committee assignments and liaisons that had been circulated in advance and passed a resolution to approve organizational meeting business items. The board also handled an internal discussion about the standing Health & Safety committee and agreed to send options for changing its status (folding into Student Achievement, making it ad hoc, or other bylaws changes) to the Policy committee for drafting any required bylaw amendments.

The board then held officer elections. Following nominations and roll call voting under procedures described by the treasurer and general counsel, the tally for president was 4 votes for Doctor Kareem Moffett and 3 votes for Mister Craig; Doctor Moffett was elected board president. For vice president, Eve Bolton won 4 votes to 3 for Mister Craig and was elected vice president. The board administered the statutory oaths of office for the two officers immediately after the votes.

Votes at a glance - Resolution to approve the 2025 modified tax budget — Mover: Mister Craig; Second: Miss Mapp; Outcome: approved (roll call, unanimous affirmative recorded). - Resolution authorizing advanced monthly tax distributions from the Hamilton County Auditor — Mover: Mister Craig; Second: Doctor Moffett; Outcome: approved (roll call, unanimous affirmative recorded). - Approval of organizational meeting business items (committee assignments, liaisons) — Outcome: approved (roll call, affirmative recorded). - Election of board president — Outcome: Doctor Kareem Moffett elected (vote tally 4–3). - Election of vice president — Outcome: Eve Bolton elected (vote tally 4–3).

Why it matters The tax budget provides the Hamilton County Budget Commission the basis to review and set local property-tax revenue rates for the coming year; the board’s presentation emphasized that the district budgeted to cover its voted and unvoted debt obligations. The advanced-payment resolution changes cash flow timing by asking the county to transfer collections to district accounts monthly rather than holding them in the county account. Leadership changes place a new board president and vice president in charge of setting meeting agendas and making recommendations about committee work and public engagement.

The board did not take final action on the potential Xavier University Montessori proposal discussed later in the meeting; administrators were asked to continue discussions and share documents with trustees. The board also directed Policy to draft any bylaw changes needed if Health & Safety is restructured.

The board adjourned after completing the organizational votes and oaths; the new president indicated the administration and board will continue work on committee assignments and pending items at upcoming meetings.