Swapping One Tax for Another to Fund Bus Improvements

Cincinnati area voters might get a chance to decide the future of transit funding in the city of Cincinnati and the county of Hamilton.

1 minute read

August 13, 2019, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


SORTA Metro

Darius Pinkston / Flickr

"A City Council committee on Tuesday laid the groundwork for what could become the Tri-State's first boost in bus service funding in more than four decades," reports Pat LaFleur.

The somewhat complicated matter requires the end of one funding source (an earning's tax) to make a room for a new one (a sales tax). The change will require approval from voters.

Councilmember P.G. Sittenfeld introduced the legislation in a committee this week, describing the proposal as necessary to 'dramatically improve our bus system and infrastructure.'

"Current discussions among city, county and transit leaders indicate an increase in the county's sales tax would fund bus operations, bus capital costs and road and bridge infrastructure improvements that would benefit Metro's routes throughout the county," reports LaFleur.

Tuesday, August 6, 2019 in WCPO

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view image of strip mall in suburban Duncanville, Texas.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall

A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

2 hours ago - Parking Reform Network

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

4 hours ago - Next City

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

6 hours ago - InTransition Magazine