It's time to start taking Cincinnati Futures Commission's report seriously | Opinion

Keary McCarthy

Opinion contributor

It’s time to be honest about the role taxes play in funding essential local services such as public safety. It’s also time to recognize that strong, vibrant cities drive regional growth and support Ohio’s statewide economic success.

However, a recent opinion column by the Buckeye Institute criticized a recommendation from the Cincinnati Futures Commission regarding the potential need for increased tax revenue ("Raising Cincinnati's income tax could make bad financial news worse," April 26). This was one of many recommendations made by business leaders to address a projected $438 million budget shortfall over the next decade. This knee-jerk criticism by the Buckeye Institute is not only predictable, but it also looks past the reality that the vast majority of municipal income tax revenue goes to pay for police, fire, and other critical public services in Cincinnati.

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A general view of the seal inside of Cincinnati Police District One in West End. In fiscal year 2024, the city budgeted $345 million for public safety out of a $531 million budget. This is 65% of Cincinnati’s total general revenue fund budget.

For cities all across Ohio, public safety is the largest single budgetary expense. On average, police and fire services consume as much as two-thirds of a city’s general revenue fund budget. This is certainly the case in Cincinnati. In fiscal year 2024, the city budgeted $345 million for public safety out of a $531 million budget. This is 65% of Cincinnati’s total general revenue fund budget. While all governments must carefully manage taxpayer dollars, there is simply not enough room in the other 35% of Cincinnati’s non-public safety budget to rely on austerity alone. The Buckeye Institute may not have explicitly called for defunding the police, but with no new revenue to address a long-term budget deficit, that is exactly what could happen.

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Furthermore, in its criticism, the Buckeye Institute also ignores the fact that state budget cuts to local governments in recent years have contributed to the financial condition that cities like Cincinnati now face. The elimination of the estate tax, which the Buckeye Institute championed, and significant reductions in the Local Government Fund have cost cities hundreds of millions of dollars over the last decade. For example, in 2011, Cincinnati received approximately $40.7 million from the state. In 2022, that number dropped by well over 50% to just $15.9 million. In fact, the total cumulative state revenue cut to Cincinnati over this period is a whopping $270 million.

Police in Downtown Cincinnati. For cities all across Ohio, public safety is the largest single budgetary expense. On average, police and fire services consume as much as two-thirds of a city’s general revenue fund budget.

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The Buckeye Institute is quick to criticize the need for new tax revenue, but rarely acknowledges that municipal income tax pays for essential local services like police and fire. Nor do they recognize that public safety is essential for economic prosperity. It’s time to set aside the tired old talking points and start taking seriously the thoughtful recommendations of business and community leaders who care deeply about the long-term economic success of the city and the Cincinnati region.Keary McCarthy is executive director of the Ohio Mayors Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of mayors in Ohio’s 30 largest cities and suburbs.