Hamilton County voters won't see a sales tax repeal on their ballots after an effort by conservatives fell short of the 33,369 signatures required to put it there.
Last month all three members of the Hamilton County Commission voted to implement a .25 percent sales tax starting in April next year to bridge a $20 million budget gap. That tax will not lead to an overall increase in the county's 7-percent sales tax rate because it will replace the expiring tax levy approved to pay for the restoration of Union Terminal. Voters passed the so-called "icon tax" in 2014 to raise $200 million for the restoration of the terminal; it is set to expire in April next year.
Some conservatives cried foul at the tax and mounted a petition drive to get a repeal on the ballot.
Another move last year by commissioners to boost the county's sales tax by .2 percent met with strong resistance from conservatives, who mounted a petition drive to repeal the hike. County commissioners rescinded the proposed increase after opponents reported collecting enough signatures to land a repeal on the ballot.
Though the more recent effort to repeal the .25-percent tax fell short, petition drive leader and Republican Hamilton County Commission candidate Andy Black says it was worth it.
"We generated a conversation that has posed a lot of critical questions for our county," Black said in a statement announcing the shortfall in signatures. "Questions that we will continue to push until we get answers from the commissioners. They have yet to explain why they implemented a $40 million tax when they are trying to fill a $20 million budget hole — where is the other $20 million going? We all deserve to know."
Hamilton County Administrator Jeff Aluotto said last month that extending the tax would provide revenue sufficient to close the upcoming funding gap. The tax would raise $20 million next year because it starts in April and then would bridge larger subsequent gaps by collecting $40 million a year.
“We’ve been treading water here for a while in Hamilton County," Hamilton County Commission President Denise Driehaus said last month. "From my point of view, it’s time to sink or swim — and we’re going to swim. We’ve closed buildings, we’ve reduced staff. We’re on furloughs and hiring freezes. We’ve had additional challenges in recent years with cuts to the state’s funding. And we’ve had an increase in need related to the opioid epidemic.”
