That's what residents in this Hamilton County village are facing, its officials say.

If an 8.9-mill operating levy doesn't pass next month, the historic village could lose its status as one of a handful of municipalities in the county without an income or earnings tax, Glendale's mayor said.

In 150 years, the 2,200-population village has never had to resort to an income tax, said Mayor Tom Todd, a retired doctor. "We pride ourselves on that ... (but) we've got to get the money someplace."

The four-year levy, the largest municipal tax proposal on the ballot in Hamilton County, would replace an expiring 6.6-mill levy and raise $809,000, or about half of Glendale's annual budget, according to the village.

It would cost the owner of a $200,000 home - Glendale's median value - about $590 a year.

Glendale, which boasts a median household income of $75,000, according to the 2000 Census, has seen estate-tax income plummet with the growth of financial planning, officials said. Inheritance revenue has fallen from millions of dollars a year a few decades ago to about $130,000 this year, Todd said.

Municipalities get 80 percent of receipts from the estate tax, but the state is considering eliminating it, possibly next year.

The mayor also points to increases in state workers' compensation premiums, fuel costs, and health-care and liability insurance.

Glendale has cut about 10 village jobs over five years to save money, contracting garbage pickup.

If the levy doesn't pass, Todd said, council will likely put the issue before voters next year, or consider an income or earnings tax.

Cities and villages can impose up to a 1 percent income tax without going to voters, according to the Ohio Municipal League.

The village needs at least 8.8 mills to break even over the next four years, according to officials.

A larger levy was proposed to maintain a cushion and to allow for costs such as repairing the village's aging sewers, the mayor said.

The village points out that its reserves of $1.2 million will allow a 2.5-mill levy used for sewer improvements to expire at the end of the year, giving taxpayers at least a one-year break.

Rachel Schmid, 53, said she'd rather vote on a property tax increase than face an income tax she didn't vote for.

E-mail loakes@enquirer.com