While many are focused on the candidates themselves when they create their voting plan, it’s a good idea to educate yourself on the issues you’ll be weighing in on. 

You don’t want to go to the ballot and be left wondering what on earth you’re voting for. 

These are the issues that will be on the ballots for Hamilton County voters on May 5: 

School Issues

Three school districts are seeking money to aid their current expenses in the May primary election. 

Mt. Healthy City School District is seeking an indefinite .75 earnings tax on residents within their school district. 

The Board of Education believes an income tax on taxable income may be the best means to adequately meet the necessary requirements of the school district, according to a resolution declaring it necessary to annually raise an additional amount for the school district’s purposes. This document was written by the Mt. Healthy School board.

The document states that the amount of taxes which may be raised within the 10-mill limitation tax levies they currently receive will be insufficient to provide the amount of money for necessary requirements.

The North College Hill City School District is also looking to aid its current expenses. They are seeking 1.25% of earnings tax over the following five years.

“On January 12, 2026, the Board of Education of the North College Hill City

School District (the “Board”) adopted a resolution pursuant to Section 5748.02 of the Revised Code requesting the State Tax Commissioner to estimate and certify to the Board the property tax rate and income tax rate that would have to be imposed in the current year to produce an amount equivalent to $2,436,277 annually, a certified copy of which resolution was delivered to the State Tax Commissioner,” according to a resolution submitting to the electors of the school district about imposing a new earned income tax.

Southwest Local City School District is seeking a new tax levy lasting five years. This levy is for 4 mills. A four-mill tax levy generates $4 in tax revenue for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.

(Not sure what a levy or a mill is? Flip to the next page for an explainer.) 

City Issues

The City of Reading is seeking a tax levy of 5.89 mills. This tax levy asks $5.89 in revenue for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.

The money will be used for the issuance of bonds for municipal facilities; the levy, if passed, would last 28 years.

In section 1 of the resolution declaring the necessity of issuing bonds, it declares this tax levy is necessary to issue bonds of Reading’s city council in the principal amount of $27,000,000 for the purpose of site acquisition, new construction, improvements, renovations and additions to municipal facilities, and providing equipment, furnishings and site improvements.

Township Issues

Delhi Township is seeking a 3.2-mill tax levy, providing $3.2 for each $1,000 of assessed property, indefinitely from residents.

The money would support fire and emergency services. 

“This is an emergency resolution for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare of the township,” states section 3 of the township’s resolution declaring the necessity of this levy.

A Levy in Waiting

The Hamilton County Job and Family Services tax levy will not be on the May 5 primary ballot. 

The agency oversees child services for the county, funding the mandated local match to state and federal revenues for child services as required by Ohio’s child welfare statutes. Local responsibilities include investigations of allegations of child abuse and neglect and providing services to aid families, including mental health and substance use treatment, emergency housing and parent training.

Because it is seeing an increase in housing needs for its clients, the agency is losing more money than it takes in.

At current spending levels, projections show a levy would run a deficit by 2027. At a March 5 meeting, a consultant from Public Consulting Group identified $36 million in cuts for 2026 to allow the agency to stay solvent. 

Details about the levy are still being worked out in preparation for the Nov. 11 ballot.

This article appears in April 15-28, 2026.