Politics
Cincinnati November Referendum on Property Tax Levy for Parks Sets New Rates for Residents
The measure would raise the city's property tax rate by 1.2 mills starting in tax year 2027, adding an estimated $48 annually to the average single-family home bill in Hamilton County.
How we reported this
The Cincinnati parks and recreation levy referendum, set for the November 2026 ballot, proposes a permanent 1.2-mill increase to the city's property tax rate. Hamilton County residents who own homes assessed at the median value of $180,000 would see their annual tax bill rise by $48 if the measure passes, according to filings with the Hamilton County Board of Elections.
Why the levy reaches voters now
City budget documents released in March 2026 showed a $4.2 million shortfall in park maintenance funding after federal American Rescue Plan dollars expired. The shortfall has already led to reduced mowing schedules at 12 neighborhood parks and delayed repairs at the Cincinnati Nature Center trails. Local officials placed the levy on the ballot to address the gap without drawing from the general fund, which supports police and fire services.
Residents in neighborhoods such as Price Hill and Avondale would see the largest share of new revenue directed to their district pools and playgrounds under the distribution formula in the ordinance. The same formula allocates 35 percent of collections to capital projects at Smale Riverfront Park and the Washington Park lawn, sites that recorded 1.1 million visitors in 2025.
Direct effects on household costs and services
For a Cincinnati resident renting a two-bedroom apartment, the levy would appear indirectly through a projected $6 to $9 monthly rent increase once landlords adjust for the higher tax assessment on multi-family buildings. Homeowners in the $250,000 assessment bracket would pay an extra $67 per year, with payments collected through the county treasurer's twice-yearly bills beginning in February 2027.
Policy analysts at the University of Cincinnati's Economics Center project the levy would generate $9.8 million in its first full year. That amount would restore seasonal staffing at 22 playgrounds and fund three new full-time park rangers, positions eliminated in the 2025 budget.
If approved by a simple majority, the levy takes effect on January 1, 2027, with the first tax collections due in the spring billing cycle. County election officials have scheduled the measure as Issue 3 on the ballot, alongside two other local questions on library funding and a proposed transit sales tax.