"Ensuring our long-term vibrancy requires making complex and difficult decisions in the short term," he said. He pledged the recommendations would be vetted, that there would be public engagement and that anything that's done would take into consideration the city's "vision of equitable growth."
"This is going to take time," Pureval said.
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, seen here, reacted to the Cincinnati Futures Commission report: "Ensuring our long-term vibrancy requires making complex and difficult decisions in the short-term."
City Manager Sheryl Long, who runs the day-to-day operations of the city, said through a spokeswoman she would "look to the mayor and city council to provide guidance on how they would like the administration to proceed.”
Pureval called for the convening of the Cincinnati Futures Commission, a group tasked with looking at the financial future of the city. But it was Procter & Gamble CEO Jon Moeller who led and selected the 34-member group of business, civic and community leaders who did the work. After 15 months, on Thursday, it released a comprehensive, $728 million plan aimed at spurring growth and putting the city in a good financial position.
The commission found the city has a $438 million deficit over the next decade and that the pension system will fail without a major change to how business is done.
The commission recommended the city impose a trash collection fee, regionalize its water system, lease out Lunken Airport and sell its public golf courses. And it recommended raising the city's earnings tax by 0.15 percentage points, with the increase dedicated to propelling economic growth and boosting public safety. The earnings tax would go from 1.8% to 1.95%.
The report was delivered to Pureval late Wednesday, with the commission officially disbanded Thursday. It's unclear who would bring forward the ideas or how. When the city convened a similar commission in 1986, the commission presented its recommendations to citizens and backed a campaign for a charter amendment that raised the earnings tax.
The Enquirer reached out to Pureval, Long and all nine council members but couldn't find anyone willing to say which recommendations they support or oppose. Here's what we found.
A view of downtown Cincinnati.
What council members said
Cincinnati City Councilman Reggie Harris, chairman of council's Budget and Finance Committee: "What is going to need to be clear and articulated is, 'What is the value impact to everyday citizens?' The recommendations are a pathway to fiscal strength in 10 years, but what does that mean for citizens in terms of jobs and wages and quality of life?"
Councilwoman Anna Albi: "What the Futures Commission report makes clear is that we have some challenges and tough decisions ahead of us. I look forward to digging into the report's findings and working with my colleagues and the administration to identify policy solutions that will support long-term financial stability for Cincinnati."
Councilman Jeff Cramerding, chairman of council's Equitable Growth and Housing Committee: "I am glad there is attention on this. There is a lot of great information to pave the way for an important and difficult conversation. We always knew this conversation was going to be painful. I don’t think we should take anything off the table. This is why I ran for council. I have been anxious for this difficult conversion."
What other key leaders said
Among other city leaders with a stake in the Futures Commission recommendations, three offered a response.
Candace McGraw, CEO of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and Molly North, CEO of commercial real estate developer Al. Neyer and president of the Cincinnati Park Board, both served on the Cincinnati Futures Commission. Todd Palmeter is CEO of Great Parks of Hamilton County.
All of their organizations would be impacted by Futures Commission's recommendations, which calls for the city to lease Lunken Airport to CVG; suggests closer collaboration between the city and county parks' operations; and proposes that French Park and Mount Airy Forest be managed by the county instead of the city.
Candace McGraw of CVG: “Airports are unique businesses that should be viewed as economic growth drivers for a region. We welcome continued conversations with city leaders about the role that Lunken could play in the aviation ecosystem of our region.”
Molly North of the Park Board: "Nothing is off the table in terms of shoring up the city’s future operating deficit. Cincinnati Parks will do all it can reasonably do to contribute to the city’s financial stability while maintaining some of the country’s greatest parks. There is no question that Parks and Rec will continue to collaborate to gain efficiencies. As it relates to the recommendation to move Mount Airy Forest and French Park under the management of Great Parks of Hamilton County, there are many factors in tallying the costs and benefits of such a move, but it is a worthwhile evaluation."
Todd Palmeter of Great Parks of Hamilton County: “Like others, we are reviewing the Futures Commission’s report today for the first time. We appreciate the valuable work of the commission to examine these complex issues. We also appreciate the commission’s acknowledgement that we are good stewards of the public’s resources, effectively and efficiently operating the public’s assets with excellence. We know from our existing partnership with the city that it can work. We are open to exploring opportunities to build upon our relationship with the city in a financially responsible way and look forward to having conversations with Mayor Pureval, Cincinnati Parks’ leadership, city administration, and members of the Futures Commission."
What others said
Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor Orlando Sonza, Republican candidate for the 1st District Congressional district, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Cincinnati Democrats want to raise your taxes and impose high service fees while inflation continues to go through the roof. #Bidenomics isn’t working. #OH01."
Adam Koehler, Republican candidate for Hamilton County Commissioner and a lead opponent of last year's sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway: "I've talked to Republicans who own small businesses in Cincinnati and after seeing this are planning on packing up and leaving. They are going to take their tax dollars with them. What are these pimps going to do when they have no tax base to steal from anymore?"
