📋 FACT CHECK: Proposed Dissolution of the Village of Cleves

Over the past several weeks, residents have heard many claims regarding the proposed dissolution of the Village of Cleves. Rather than relying on rumors, speculation, or social media commentary, we have prepared a fact-based summary using Ohio law, official financial records, tax data, and publicly available information.

The Facts

❌ Claim: Cleves property taxes are significantly higher than Miami Township.

Fact: The Hamilton County Auditor's 2026 Tax Rates by Political Subdivision report demonstrates that the effective property tax rates between Cleves and Miami Township are nearly identical. The differences are minimal. The more important question is not which jurisdiction is marginally higher. The more important question is what taxpayers receive for essentially the same tax burden.

Village residents receive local home rule services that Miami Township does not provide, including a local Building Department, Zoning Administration, Code Enforcement, municipal planning, local ordinances, and direct access to local elected officials who are accountable to the community.

Home rule gives residents the ability to make decisions about their own community through locally elected officials, rather than relying on decisions made by another political subdivision.

❌ Claim: Dissolving the Village eliminates taxes.

Fact: Dissolution does not eliminate school, county, state, federal, or sales taxes. Those taxes remain regardless of whether the Village exists. Municipal responsibilities would simply shift to another government.

Miami Township officials have publicly indicated that a General Fund levy will likely be necessary in the near future to fund additional responsibilities and ongoing operations.

By contrast, the Cleves Finance Committee, a majority of Village Council, the Mayor, the Village Administrator, and the Fiscal Officer have all publicly stated that, if the proposed earned income tax is adopted, the current 3.9-mill Current Expense Levy will be permitted to expire in 2028 without renewal. That represents an actual reduction in local property taxes and would particularly benefit retired residents and families who rely on retirement or disability income because those forms of income are generally not subject to the municipal earned income tax.

❌ Claim: Dissolving the Village eliminates the cost of government.

Fact: Roads, bridges, stormwater infrastructure, parks, zoning, code enforcement, and other public services still require funding regardless of which government provides them. Dissolution transfers those responsibilities. It does not eliminate their cost.

❌ Claim: TIF funds can simply be used to replace Village roads.

Fact: Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenues are legally restricted. Miami Township's legal counsel has publicly confirmed those funds cannot simply be redirected to repair or replace Village road infrastructure.

✅ Fact: Miami Township officials have publicly acknowledged that their General Fund cannot absorb the Village's additional responsibilities without additional revenue. That means future taxes, new revenue sources, or reductions in service would likely be necessary.

✅ Fact: The proposed earned income tax distributes the responsibility for funding local infrastructure among those who live, work, and earn income in Cleves, instead of relying almost exclusively on property owners.

A Permanent Decision

The decision to dissolve a municipality is one of the most significant governmental decisions a community can make. Although Ohio law provides a process to incorporate a new village, doing so is extraordinarily difficult, time-consuming, and unlikely to occur in practice. Residents should approach dissolution as a permanent decision. Once the Village of Cleves surrenders its corporate powers, residents should not expect that local government, home rule authority, and the municipal services it provides could simply be recreated in the future.

📄 Attached is the Hamilton County Auditor's 2026 Tax Rates by Political Subdivision report for your review.

We encourage every resident to examine the official tax data, review the facts, ask questions, and make an informed decision based on reliable information.

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