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Hamilton County commissioners review property-tax working group recommendations and warn federal shutdown could strain local services
Summary
At the Oct. 2 Hamilton County Board of Commissioners meeting, commissioners discussed recommendations from a state property-tax working group, budget planning for 2026 and local housing voucher shortfalls, and said a federal government shutdown could worsen county service pressures.
The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 2 discussed a set of recommendations from a state property-tax working group and warned that a continuing federal government shutdown could further strain county services and benefits.
Commissioner Denise Driehaus, who served on the governor-assembled working group, said the panel produced about 20 recommendations intended to provide relief and improve transparency. “One was an expansion of the homestead exemption,” Driehaus said. She also described a recommended circuit-breaker approach aimed at households paying more than about 5% of their income toward property taxes and other proposals that would require state participation.
The working group’s final report, Driehaus said, calls for the state to partner on relief measures and for annual reviews of tax exemptions currently estimated at $12,000,000,000 in value. “These should be looked at on an annual basis,” she said, adding that some exemptions produce demonstrable economic returns while others may not.
Why it matters: county leaders said any local relief depends on state action and could factor into the county’s 2026 budget choices. Commissioners are preparing budget hearings and face previously disclosed gaps between department requests and expected revenues.
Commissioner Alicia Reese raised housing concerns tied to immediate needs: she said cuts to the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority voucher program have left people ready to move but without vouchers. “We’ve got 2,000 people that’s ready to get into a place to live,” Reese said, and asked county staff to check with CMHA about whether county funding could help move people into housing quickly.
Commissioners also discussed the potential effect of a federal government shutdown on local services. Driehaus and county staff said a prolonged shutdown could disrupt benefits administered or coordinated at the local level, including SNAP and other assistance, and could increase demand on county reserves. County Administrator Jeff Aluto (listed in the meeting roster as county administrator) agreed to compile a report for the board on potential local impacts and programs that could provide short-term help.
Other items mentioned during commissioner reports included a budget forum the county conducted to prepare for 2026, outreach and events such as the State of Cancer presentation scheduled Oct. 15 at the Urban League with free mammography services organized with UCHealth, a county “pitch night” event Oct. 22 at Memorial Hall, and a voter-registration deadline on Oct. 6.
The board did not take formal policy votes on the working-group recommendations at the meeting; Driehaus said the recommendations were submitted to the governor and that legislative action would be required for many proposals.
Meeting context and next steps: commissioners said they will continue budget hearings over the next month and will seek additional information from CMHA and Job and Family Services about vouchers and service-provider contracts before considering fiscal changes. Staff also agreed to provide the board with a written report on potential shutdown impacts and with levy balances when requested.
