By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati City Manager Valerie Lemmie proposed 2003 property tax rates Wednesday that would cost the owner of the average Cincinnati home $14 more a year.

Lemmie

Opponents call it a tax increase, while supporters say the city is simply being responsible with a tight budget by allowing taxes to keep pace with rising home values.

Either way, Ms. Lemmie's proposal would reverse a three-year trend of City Council gradually rolling back tax rates as property values rise.

The city faces a projected $35 million budget deficit in 2003. The manager's proposal - keeping the millage rate at 5.4 mills rather than reducing it to 4.9 mills - would give the city another $2.34 million in revenue next year.

Four of nine council members - Pat DeWine, Chris Monzel, John Cranley and Alicia Reece - have signed onto a resolution to roll back the millage rate. Mr. DeWine said he's looking for one more vote to join his bipartisan coalition.

He won't get it from Charterite Jim Tarbell.

"I think right now couldn't be a worse time to mess with it. It's keeping step with inflation. It's responsible," he said. "This could make the difference between two health centers and whether they survive or not, or two recreation centers. The poor will be hurt the most with a cut like this."

But Mr. DeWine, a Republican, said council spent its way into the budget crisis, and shouldn't tax its way out of it.

"It is a tough budget year. There's no question about it. But the reality is, it's a tough budget year for homeowners as well," he said.

And Democrat John Cranley, reversing his vote against a tax cut in June, said he now supports it - if for no other reason than giving tax relief to voters being asked to approve a 4.89-mill school bond levy.

Cincinnati homeowners now pay $1,924 in taxes on a $100,000 home. That amount will go to $2,067 if voters approve the school levy. The average city home is worth $93,000.

Mayor Charlie Luken said he doesn't think a tax cut is responsible given the city's budget crisis. But if Mr. DeWine's faction gets the five votes it needs, Mr. Luken would be hard-pressed to veto the resolution because that would eliminate the tax entirely.

Both the property tax rate and another tax-related issue - Councilman David Pepper's proposal to levy the 2.1 percent earnings tax on out-of-town athletes and performers - will get a hearing at next Monday's Finance Committee.

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com