If they go for a penny increase, it would give Hamilton County the highest sales tax rate of any county in Ohio at 8%.
We expect to learn more today about a proposed tax increase that would change how bus service is funded, locally. The plan calls for repealing the city earnings tax that pays for Metro and replace it with a countywide sales tax for transportation. In addition to expanding Metro bus service, the tax is expected to provide money for road and bridge repairs. A penny increase in the sales tax would max it out at 8 percent, only Cuyahoga County in Cleveland has a sales tax rate that high.
A news conference is planned for 3pm to outline plans for the tax and then the SORTA board will consider it at a special meeting tonight at 6pm.
If they go for the full increase of 1 cent, it would hike the tax on the purchase of a new car in Hamilton County by about $250. The map below shows the current sales tax rates in all of Ohio's 88 counties.