Wednesday, June 30, 1999
Heimlich advocating a property tax rollback
Opponents say change could cost more later
BY HOWARD WILKINSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati City Councilman Phil Heimlich wants a modest property tax rollback, but city administrators are warning against it, saying it could lead to a tax increase later.
Increasing property values mean that property taxes will increase in 2000 unless the city rolls back the 6.1 mills it collects for operating purposes to 5.68 mills, Mr. Heimlich argued Tuesday at a meeting of city council's finance committee.
“What I'm talking about here is not lowering taxes, just making sure they stay the same,” Mr. Heimlich said.
Mr. Heimlich has support for his rollback plan from his two fellow Republicans on council, Jeanette Cissell and Charles Winburn, but he may not have the five votes he needs when the issue comes to a vote today before the full council.
Council has until July 20 to submit a tax budget to Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes, telling Mr. Rhodes how much the city wants to collect from city property owners" tax payments.
In 1947, a city charter amendment was adopted allowing the city to collect up to 6.1 mills for operating purposes and the city has asked for the maximum amount every year since.
But Mr. Rhodes' office is in the process of updating property values in Hamilton County and the auditor's office has told city officials to expect a 7 percent increase in city property values, although the final numbers won't be available until the fall.
Mr. Heimlich argued that if the millage remains at 6.1 mills — as City Manager John Shirey and finance Director Tim Riordan have recommended — city property owners will end up paying more because of higher property values.
In 1999, the 6.1 mills is expected to raise $28 million for the city. If property values increase by 7 percent, the 6.1 mills would bring in $30.2 million in 2000.
“The only way to keep taxpayers from paying more is by rolling back the millage,” Mr. Heimlich said.
The rollback being proposed by Mr. Heimlich would be minimal, amounting to 0.42 mill. A mill equals $1 of taxes for every $1,000 in assessed value.
Mr. Rhodes appeared before the finance committee and told council members the amount the city asks for “is totally up to you.”
“There's nothing wrong with not taking it all,” Mr. Rhodes said. At Tuesday's meeting, Mr. Riordan urged council not to consider a rollback until it had more definitive numbers from Mr. Rhodes' office on how much the value of property in the city has increased.
“You could end up the following year looking at the possibility of increasing taxes,” Mr. Riordan said.
Mr. Heimlich argued that the $18 million surplus the city anticipates carrying over into 2000 would more than make up for the $2.2 million in revenue it could lose by rolling back the millage.
The rollback proposed by Mr. Heimlich would affect only a small portion of the total millage received by the city — only that portion that is used for the city's operating expenses.
Rollbacks are state law for most taxes, but all municipalities, including Cincinnati, have a portion of their total millage that they are not required to roll back.
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