SchoolsFriday, November 6
Most Greater Cincinnati school levies failed Tuesday, and Northwest Local is planning major cuts
The Daily Hamilton team
Voters across Greater Cincinnati turned down most school tax requests Tuesday. Nine of 12 districts saw levies or bonds fail, and none of the six income tax measures passed. Fairfield City Schools' 1.25% earned income tax levy was among them, so cuts approved earlier this year for 2027-2028 will now go ahead, including dozens of positions and higher pay-to-play fees.
Nine of 12 districts saw their funding requests fail
9 of 12
- requests failed
- 3 requests passed
Source: WLWT
View as table
| Count | Share | |
|---|---|---|
| requests failed | 9 | 75% |
| requests passed | 3 | 25% |
Northwest Local Schools in Colerain Township is preparing major cuts after 57% of voters rejected its 1.5% earned-income tax levy. “We are not a district that has extra,” Superintendent Darrell Yater said.
- Elementary gifted program: would be eliminated
- Bus service: limited to students living over two miles away
- Sports, band and theater fees: $100 to $800
- Next ballot chance: May, but no decision yet
- Cuts start next August without new funding
Ohio's property tax levies passed far more often than income tax levies
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Property tax levies | 56% |
| Income tax levies | 13% |
Cincinnati Public Schools was the bright spot. Its 7-mill property tax levy passed and should generate $66.3 million annually starting in 2027. Statewide, property tax levies fared far better than income tax levies.
Sources: WLWT, WVXU, Cincinnati Enquirer