Information About the CPS Property-Tax Levy on the November 3, 2026 Ballot

The Cincinnati Board of Education has placed a five-year, 7-mill operating levy on the November 3, 2026 ballot. If approved, it would generate approximately $66.3 million annually to help CPS preserve educational quality, sustain student progress and maintain programmatic and enrichment opportunities available to more than 34,000 students across 66 schools.

For 10 years, Cincinnati Public Schools managed rising costs without asking voters for new operating funding. The last time that Cincinnati Public Schools placed a new levy on the ballot was in November 2016, when voters approved a levy to support the Preschool Promise – a public-private partnership to increase the number of high-quality preschool seats in Cincinnati Public Schools.

Since 2016, rising costs and inflation have increased the cost of transportation, utilities, insurance, technology, instructional materials and specialized student services. This spring, CPS reduced staffing and spending, reorganized services, implemented furlough days and closed a projected $58 million budget gap. Those steps balanced the FY2027 budget, but they did not create the recurring revenue needed to keep pace with rising costs.

Explore the Facts

CPS went 10 years without requesting new operating funding

Over the past decade, the cost of nearly every part of operating schools has increased. CPS absorbed those increases through careful budgeting, staffing and spending reductions, outside funding and changes in how services are delivered.

Beginning in FY2027, projected recurring revenue growth will no longer keep pace with inflation-driven costs. By FY2030, CPS projects a cash deficit of $89 M to maintain existing operations. Recurring revenue or additional reductions will be needed to address that situation. Without recurring revenue or additional reductions, that gap will continue to grow.

CPS reduced costs before asking voters for an additional levy

Before placing a levy on the ballot, CPS took significant steps to balance the FY2027 budget while protecting classrooms and student opportunities as much as possible. The District:

Closed a projected budget gap of nearly $58 million
Reduced staffing and non-personnel spending
Implemented furlough days
Limited hiring and strengthened spending controls
Reorganized services and operations
Secured outside funding
Used limited one-time resources

These actions balanced one year of the budget. They did not permanently close the recurring gap between revenue and rising costs. Continuing to reduce spending at the same scale would increasingly affect the classrooms, services and experiences students and families rely on.

The levy would provide recurring operating revenue

If approved, CPS would use levy funds to:

Protect strong teaching and learning by supporting classroom educators, instructional resources, and rigorous academic experiences.
Sustain student support that addresses academic, social, emotional, and specialized learning needs.
Preserve college and career pathways that provide career exploration, job-launching credentials, and opportunities to earn college credit.
Maintain arts, athletics, enrichment, and extracurricular experiences that engage students and support their development.
Support safe, welcoming, and reliable schools through transportation, school security, technology, maintenance, and allowable priority facility needs.

The levy would also give CPS a more stable financial foundation for advancing the priorities in its Strategic Plan as student needs evolve

Without recurring revenue, additional reductions would reach students

CPS has already reduced staffing and spending to balance the FY2027 budget. Without additional recurring revenue, future budget processes could require reductions such as:

Closing or consolidating schools
Increasing class sizes and reducing teaching positions
Limiting transportation eligibility, requiring more students to walk or families to arrange transportation
Reducing school security
Eliminating extracurricular and after-school programs
Charging participation fees for athletics
Delaying needed building maintenance or improvements

These are potential impacts, not final decisions. The Board of Education would determine any future reductions through public budget processes.

CPS will remain accountable for every dollar

CPS publishes annual budgets and financial reports; undergoes regular independent financial audits; and reports publicly to the elected Board of Education. The District also maintains strong ratings from major credit-rating agencies, reflecting independent assessments of its financial management.

General Fund Budget

Five-Year Forecast — August 2026
Internal Audit Plan FY 2027 — Approved July 22, 2026
Moody's Rating Action — June 2026
Fitch Rating Action — May 2026

What would the levy cost?

The proposed levy is a fixed five-year, 7-mill operating levy. If approved, the estimated annual cost would be:

Home market value	Estimated annual cost	Estimated half-year tax bill
$100,000	$245	$122.50

Proposed Operating Levy Estimator

Proposed 7-Mill, 5-Year Fixed Levy

Total Home Market Value

Taxable Assessed Value (35%): $0.00

Estimated Annual Cost: $0.00

Monthly Equivalent Cost: $0.00

*Disclaimer: This tool calculates the estimated impact of the proposed 7-mill operating levy only. It does not reflect existing property taxes or additional local exemptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is CPS asking voters for additional funding now?

CPS went 10 years without requesting new operating funding. During that period, inflation increased the cost of transportation, utilities, insurance, technology, instructional materials and student services while recurring revenue did not grow at the same pace. CPS reduced staffing and spending and balanced the FY2027 budget, but those measures did not create permanent recurring revenue.

How much would the levy generate?

How much would homeowners pay?

How long would the levy last?

Didn’t CPS already balance its budget?

Why can’t CPS continue cutting costs?

What happens if the levy is not approved?

Without additional recurring revenue, CPS expects further reductions would be required through future budget processes. Potential impacts include school closures or consolidations, larger classes, fewer teachers, reduced transportation eligibility, fewer student-support professionals, reductions in security, elimination of programs and activities, participation fees for athletics and delayed building needs. The Board would make final decisions through public budget processes.