Cincinnati voters will not decide on a city tax increase this November after Mayor Aftab Pureval withdrew his proposal ahead of the ballot filing deadline.
The move ended months of debate over whether the city should seek additional revenue through a higher municipal income tax rate.
Pureval announced the decision days before the deadline to place issues on the Nov. 3 ballot. According to reporting by the Cincinnati Business Courier, the mayor cited broader economic uncertainty and concerns about placing additional financial burdens on residents and businesses.
The proposal had aimed to address long-term budget challenges facing Cincinnati. City leaders had discussed using additional revenue to support public safety, infrastructure improvements, affordable housing initiatives, and other municipal priorities.
The decision means voters will not face competing city and school tax measures during the same election cycle. However, a separate income tax proposal from Cincinnati Public Schools remains on the November ballot.
Why the city tax increase was withdrawn
Pureval said economic conditions played a significant role in the decision to shelve the proposal. Inflation concerns, affordability issues, and uncertainty about future economic growth influenced the city’s approach…