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Treasurer warns Ohio property‑tax reforms could cut CPS revenue; board told to watch for governor action

Cincinnati Board of Education · December 9, 2025
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Summary

Treasurer Guston briefed the board on four pending Ohio bills (HB 129, HB 309, HB 186, HB 335) that would change levy structures, permit county budget commissions to reduce levies, and cap reappraisal growth to a GDP deflator; preliminary legislative estimates show potential multi‑million dollar losses to the district.

Treasurer Guston gave a detailed briefing Dec. 8 on pending Ohio property‑tax legislation that could materially affect Cincinnati Public Schools’ revenue.

Guston told the board that a majority of CPS revenue depends on property taxes and outlined four bills under consideration in Columbus. He summarized key provisions: HB 129 would preserve a limited 'fixed-sum' option to replace emergency levies but limit renewals to five years and count those amounts toward a 20‑mill floor; HB 309 would grant county budget commissions authority to reduce previously voter‑approved levies after a public hearing; HB 186 would apply a GDP‑deflator cap to growth for districts on the 20‑mill floor (retroactively to 2023 in current language) and propose a backfill that cancels a 2026 sales‑tax holiday; HB 335 would apply similar caps to inside millage. Guston warned these changes could reduce district revenue and complicate future levy planning.

He cited Legislative Service Commission estimates that local impacts could be roughly $9 million in fiscal year 2027 and $18 million in fiscal year 2028 for the jurisdiction, though he noted those figures are preliminary and depend on future reappraisals and inflation. Board members discussed strategy for forecasting, the February budget/three‑year forecast update, and the need for community education if levy requests become necessary.

Guston advised that the bills had passed the legislature but not yet reached the governor as of the meeting; the governor then has 10 days to act, after which the district will fold final language into February fiscal forecasts.