Mayor Aftab Pureval proposes earnings-tax increase to fund public safety, housing and anti-poverty programs

Mayor Aftab Pureval used his inaugural address to lay out an aggressive agenda that centers on public safety, housing and economic inclusion — and to say he will propose an earnings-tax increase to pay for it.

"In the next 60 days, we will put forward a proposed earnings tax increase for Cincinnati targeted toward public safety and disrupting poverty," Pureval said, without specifying an amount. He said new revenue would be used to support police and fire services "in a historic way" while also financing affordable housing and programs to grow minority-owned businesses.

The mayor framed public safety as the administration's "central focus," and outlined operational steps he said the city will take: extending a partnership with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, continuing walking and bike patrols, enforcing a downtown curfew, investing in technologies such as license-plate readers and expanding drone operations. Pureval also said the administration will "take a hard look at our entire system" and work with judges and justice-system leaders "to drive more transparency into the process."

On housing, Pureval set a long-range goal: "We have set an audacious goal of building 40,000 new housing units over the next decade," covering a mix of unit types and income levels. He said new revenue would help "catalyze neighborhoods" and support programs that reduce poverty.

The mayor also announced energy and growth initiatives: converting 65 acres at the old Center Hill landfill into a 10-megawatt solar installation and pursuing stricter review of potential data centers that could burden the power grid. He said the administration will continue to use debt tools and tax-increment financing strategically and create an "office of strategic growth" to coordinate development.

Pureval tied these proposals to broader transit and economic-development priorities, reiterating support for bus-rapid-transit implementation and a more multimodal regional system. He framed the revenue proposal as difficult but necessary: "It's never easy and it's never simple to bring new taxes to our residents. But this is something I believe we must do," he said.

What happens next: Pureval said he will present the proposed earnings-tax increase within about 60 days; the council will have to consider any ordinance or rate change and the public will be able to review details when they are released. The inauguration concluded with oaths for council members and immediate organizational business by the newly seated council.