Cincinnati Public Schools

Cincinnati business leaders are pressing Cincinnati Public Schools to withdraw a 7-mill property tax levy from the November ballot, even though it has already been approved for inclusion. In letters obtained by The Enquirer, Cincinnati Regional Chamber President Brendon Cull and Cincinnati Business Committee President Gary Lindgren called the levy "ill-advised," citing a rushed process, an unclear spending plan for the roughly $66 million it would raise, and the lack of a completed facilities master plan. They worry it could compete with a separate children's services levy the business community has endorsed as a "must-pass."

School board president Brandon Craig rejected the request, saying new revenue is essential to meet a 2030 goal of having 90% of students in three-star or higher rated schools; currently about half of CPS schools meet that bar. The levy push follows an Aug. 3 board meeting where members reversed an earlier vote for an income tax in favor of a property tax, a switch teachers' union leaders say favored commercial property owners. The filing deadline has passed, but CPS could still withdraw the levy before votes are counted.