Friday, June 25, 1999
City holds fast on tax boost
Don't expect property break, Shirey says
BY ANNE MICHAUD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
January property tax bills for residents in some municipalities, especially Cincinnati, will rise faster than in other places.
That's because taxes are structured differently in some municipalities, and that difference causes a windfall when property values rise. Hamilton County is undergoing a revaluation this year, as it does every six years, and most property values will increase.
Amberley Village, Evendale, Harrison, Madeira, Montgomery and Wyoming will reap a similar windfall, but not to the same extent as Cincinnati.
County Auditor Dusty Rhodes called the municipal windfall “sneaky.” He has urged Cincinnati to cut its tax budget to give property owners a break. Taxes may still rise with property values in January, he said, but not by as much if the city acts now.
“The city can ask for no more in dollars than their millage gave them this year,” Mr. Rhodes said.
The tax budget is to be completed by July 15.
Cincinnati City Manager John Shirey said he is planning a higher tax budget for 2000. City Finance Director Tim Riordan said the estimate is $58.1 million, up from this year's $53.9 million.
“There is nothing sneaky about it,” Mr. Shirey told city council on Wednesday. “It is the prevailing practice throughout the U.S. There is nothing changed in how the city collects property taxes in 40 or 50 years.”
In fact, altering the tax structure would require a change in the city's charter, Mr. Shirey said.
City Councilman Todd Portune said Mr. Rhodes' comment was a result of animosity toward Cincinnati: “There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of love lost toward the city.”
Charlie Luken, a candidate for city council, wrote a letter to Mayor Roxanne Qualls and council members, delivered Wednesday, urging them to correct the tax structure so residents do not see a huge increase in their January tax bills.
“Now would be a good time to give nearly every taxpayer a property tax break,” Mr. Luken wrote, noting that the city budget is running a surplus.
Ms. Qualls asked the city manager and finance director to explain the issue for council members, including information about how citizens can appeal their new valuations.
Normally when property values increase, taxing entities “roll back” their millage rate so that they are collecting the same total tax. A mill equals $1 of taxes for every $1,000 in assessed value.
For example, if a fire district collects $200,000 this year with a millage of 1.0, when property values rise, that millage might bring in $220,000. So, the district would roll its millage back to 0.90, in this fictional example, to keep the tax collection at $200,000.
Such rollbacks are state law for most taxes.
However, in Cincinnati, 30.31 mills — nearly half of the city's millage rate of 62 — are not subject to rollback. And 7.94 mills of that is because of the city charter.
The smaller municipalities, Amberley Village and the others, also have millage that, by their city charter, is not rolled back. Mr. Rhodes said that amount is typically about 25 percent to 30 percent of the cities' millage rate.
Delta will pay $30M to name new center
Docs see union as antidote to HMOs
Voinovich campaign probe ends
Ohio allots $17B for education
What local schools will receive from state
Kentucky edgy over suspect in rail killings
Council's evaluation of Shirey in recess till Monday
Governor gives reading a boost
Heston on violence: Hollywood more to blame than guns
Kasich here to court young GOP crowd
Police chief admits meeting with Cooper was mistake
Police review board drew range of applicants
Ky. gambling advocate retreats
Police blame alcohol, speeding in fatal crash
Vietnam Memorial Wall brings back memories
Words of love
Cincinnati native in new soap
GET TO IT
Life squad runs enriched couple's lives
The do's and don'ts of planning a family reunion
2 golfers to compete in Special Olympics World Games
Anderson loses tower decision
Assailants claim ringleader received lesser jail sentence
Boone sheriff, state prosecutor switching parties
Boy, dad sue mom in fireworks accident
City holds fast on tax boost
College Hill man shot to death
Comments due on plan to ban Net prescriptions
Cushion-maker moving to Norwood for bigger plant
Fire dept. grows with Colerain
Hamilton raises water rate 10%
Hillsboro girl, 12, killed in crash; sister hurt
Municipalities, cops being sued
Newport plans to raze housing
School's small start expanding every year
Students trade summer fun for work, study
Summer reading program begins
Summer troupers learn art of theater
TRISTATE DIGEST
Would-be developer sues over rezoning
