Election 2026

Independent, source-first accountability

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Issue record

Property taxes

In short

Amy Acton's campaign would widen senior tax relief and rebate up to $1,000 when bills rise over 4% a year. Don Kissick's campaign backs replacing property taxes with consumption-based local funding. Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign would roll property taxes back to before the pandemic ended. Acton's running mate, David Pepper, was on Cincinnati's council as its rate fell yearly, then on Hamilton County's board as its rate rose, fell and held flat with voter-approved levies.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Amy Acton

Would expand the homestead exemption so seniors with household incomes up to $50,000 qualify, and give homeowners a rebate of up to $1,000 when their property tax bill rises more than 4% in a year.

Don Kissick

Supports the proposed amendment to end property taxes, with local funding based on consumption instead.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Would roll property taxes back to where they were before the end of the pandemic, leaving new construction out and honoring existing debt. Under his data center plan, the centers' property taxes would fund rebates for nearby homeowners.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. campaign position

    Amy Acton: record does not settle this

    The tax-year rate rose twice, fell in his third year and held in his last. The fall reached bills a year later, in his final year. Voters approved the levy changes.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    The campaign says Pepper held the line on property taxes as a county commissioner and cut the county's rate outright in his final year. The county auditor lists the county's property tax rate at 20.18 mills for tax year 2006. In his years on the board, 2007 to 2010, it was 20.56, 20.63, 20.48 and 20.48. The rises came with levy increases voters approved: mental health and senior services in 2007, the zoo in 2008. The 2009 fall came when a smaller levy replaced the expiring Drake levy. Why there is no verdict: By tax year, the rate rose in his first two years, fell in his third and was flat in his last. Taxes are paid a year later, so the fall reached bills in 2010, his last year. "Held the line" depends on which years you count. Limit: These are full voted rates. Voters approved each levy change; we did not check who put each levy on the ballot.

  2. official action

    Amy Acton: Matches stated record claim

    Cincinnati's rate fell each tax year from 2002 to 2005, from 10.76 mills to 10.19, though council sets the rate, not one member.

    Read the full check

    Full detail

    The campaign says Pepper cut Cincinnati's property tax rate every year he served on city council. City reports show him on council for two two-year terms, the second in 2004 and 2005. The county auditor lists Cincinnati's property tax rate at 10.76 mills for tax year 2001, then 10.63, 10.36, 10.34 and 10.19 for tax years 2002 to 2005. It fell each of those years. Limit: The rate sheets give the city's total rate, not what each part pays for. Council sets the rate; one member does not.

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Sources25 source records

How we use sources

  1. Property Tax Reliefhttps://actonforgovernor.com/issue/property-tax-relief/

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts.

    candidate statement

    For: Amy Acton: campaign position

  2. On the Issueshttps://donkissick.com/on-the-issues

    People for Don Kissick and James Mills · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Headings: data centers, license-plate cameras, property taxes, corruption, economic affordability, personal dignity. The site's press releases page carried no releases when read.

    candidate statement

    For: Don Kissick: campaign position

  3. Vivek's Plan for Historic Property Tax Rollbackshttps://vivekforohio.com/viveks-plan-for-historic-property-tax-rollbacks/

    Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Linked from The Plan page.

    candidate statement

    For: Vivek Ramaswamy: campaign position

  4. The Planhttps://vivekforohio.com/the-plan/

    Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Taxes, energy, schools, crime, and his data center pledge (reprinted from a Columbus Dispatch op-ed of August 6).

    candidate statement

    For: Vivek Ramaswamy: campaign position

  5. Meet Davidhttps://actonforgovernor.com/meet-david/

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Running mate David Pepper's biography, including claims about his county and city council record.

    candidate statement

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this; Amy Acton: Matches stated record claim

  6. Rates of taxation, tax year 2006 (paid in 2007) (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 20.18, city 9.93. sha256 79e037d7d47cf2f27e0b226c048322aa4078f328235fc7541671aecc1f134825.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this

  7. Rates of taxation, tax year 2007 (paid in 2008) (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 20.56, city 9.89. sha256 040c869aebd59fe83dfb5c51e54d9ef3b1ea1eae0800140e71fee254e18059e1.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this

  8. Rates of taxation, tax year 2008 (paid in 2009) (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 20.63, city 9.89. sha256 5dc4d8d3aebee106a4d50a6752061203a8c1c8ed782b8cc388d12fbef1ec6d9c.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this

  9. Rates of taxation, tax year 2009 (paid in 2010) (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 20.48, city 9.82. sha256 0d48131afcd02dc22c8187bdec745c1b7c8e9be2b77b20bf297266df99719fce.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this

  10. Rates of taxation, tax year 2010 (paid in 2011) (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 19.45 plus 1.03 for the park district, now listed apart (20.48 together), city 10.07. sha256 e850645d41bf12c7800d59d4145568d5be4c7aecd74421bdfb6adf3164724851.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this

  11. Tax year 2007 levy summary (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Levies voters decided in 2007. County: mental health renewed with a 0.25-mill increase and senior services with a 0.13-mill increase, both November 6, 2007. Together 0.38 mills, the county rate's rise that year. sha256 12df91a5826607c7dbfc2b6a42822bd39658d1d4b53bc2863b0ffea9e5e933db.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this

  12. Tax year 2008 levy summary (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    County: the zoo levy renewed with a 0.06-mill increase, March 4, 2008. sha256 234195cc42bcf67c3f5cb2a29f7a9ac18b4c5d21c147cd9010a0b42e5f242431.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this

  13. Tax year 2009 levy summary (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    County, November 3, 2009: developmental disabilities renewed with a 0.51-mill increase, the museum center renewed 0.02 mills lower, and a new 0.34-mill Family Services & Treatment levy replaced the Drake levy, which expired at the end of 2009. The new levy's estimated cost is $10.09 per $100,000 of value, against $20.73 for the Drake levy in 2009. sha256 93ce63d1cfbd201107824877e447115476c045450b3e684fe29b79969d0b4b60.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this

  14. 2007 Budget in Brief (document)

    Hamilton County, Ohio · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Lists Todd Portune as commission president and David Pepper as vice president, so 2007 was his first year on the board. sha256 29d37fa59d381fe12116b6d6f2cb5d8ed1540cc414fddefe9e05666b134fb99c.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this

  15. 2010 Budget in Brief (document)

    Hamilton County, Ohio · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The county's own budget summary, listing David Pepper as president of the Board of County Commissioners. Hosted on the county's website vendor (revize). sha256 ad999fe36e828077a443ad1f2e69d0a5aca624626523eee5ccdab13c620a52e9.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this

  16. 2011 Budget in Brief (document)

    Hamilton County, Ohio · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Lists the 2011 board as Greg Hartmann, Chris Monzel and Todd Portune, so 2010 was Pepper's last year on the board. sha256 4331ae99e05924d3d5344ac8a17d064b98d5ec9c6205f3baf3583d033dffa1be.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: record does not settle this

  17. Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2002https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/finance/financial-reports/2002-comprehensive-annual-financial-report/

    City of Cincinnati · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Dated May 30, 2003. Its list of city officials has David Pepper on council in his first term. sha256 3eb79b0bb4ed47b447a09eb67c6f1c89890d58a9137379db1fca8ec8292ecd7b.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: Matches stated record claim

  18. Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2003https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/finance/financial-reports/2003-comprehensive-annual-financial-report/

    City of Cincinnati · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Dated June 15, 2004. The officials list has Pepper in his second term. sha256 1897f099fb93ffb81c4feeb10bea209c50c969489e11e9084de966f679d5386c.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: Matches stated record claim

  19. Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2004https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/finance/financial-reports/2004-comprehensive-annual-financial-report/

    City of Cincinnati · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Dated June 15, 2005. Council members serve two-year terms, and the officials list has Pepper in his second term. sha256 d52e7e9f4b20a3b6e7fe99f1885f1afd306a533ad03f2fa3137839d2e7098445.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: Matches stated record claim

  20. Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2005https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/finance/financial-reports/2005-comprehensive-annual-financial-report/

    City of Cincinnati · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Dated June 26, 2006. The officials list shows the new council under Mayor Mark Mallory; Pepper is not on it. sha256 84e381110db0323d33c17dd45c7d336b43c0e695af3606df5a54ceab0587094b.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: Matches stated record claim

  21. Rates of taxation, tax year 2001 (paid in 2002) (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 21.47, city 10.76. sha256 f590cc14f7cdd4c0a5a801cbe74ce5daa3d1b726cafe924fbb221e3f6ff2a12e.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: Matches stated record claim

  22. Rates of taxation, tax year 2002 (paid in 2003) (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 21.87, city 10.63. A scan with a rough text layer. sha256 7df685ddfb8ea6feb739d517abe93131b373640166175a187e86303b68142541.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: Matches stated record claim

  23. Rates of taxation, tax year 2003 (paid in 2004) (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 21.51, city 10.36. sha256 712b254f05b771b0dcf777b1131bcaecf82b5faddb087eeddcb217c6c0bbdeea.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: Matches stated record claim

  24. Rates of taxation, tax year 2004 (paid in 2005) (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 21.06, city 10.34. sha256 bb74e594f5222f7ffc347ef336f95caed4195a9566fc7183f876644cbb269543.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: Matches stated record claim

  25. Rates of taxation, tax year 2005 (paid in 2006) (document)

    Hamilton County Auditor · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 20.81, city 10.19. sha256 261b67e7c4ca295ea755115d911482495024c810ea59978b26fe364b76316006.

    official office record

    For: Amy Acton: Matches stated record claim