Huber Heights council adopts ordinance to continue 0.25% income tax, sends measure to May 6 ballot
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Summary
At its Jan. 13 regular meeting, the Huber Heights City Council adopted an ordinance continuing a 0.25% earned-income levy effective Jan. 1, 2026, and approved a companion resolution to place the measure on the May 6, 2025 ballot. Council voted 8-0 to waive a second reading and adopt the ordinance.
Huber Heights City Council on Jan. 13 adopted an ordinance to continue an existing 0.25 percent local earned-income tax beginning Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2035, and approved a companion resolution directing Montgomery and Miami county election boards to place the question before voters on May 6, 2025.
The continuation ordinance was approved at first reading after the council voted 8-0 to waive a second reading and adopt the measure immediately. Council also approved, by the same margin, a resolution that contains the ballot language and directs the two counties to put the question on the May 6 ballot.
City Manager John Russell told council the current 0.25 percent levy generates about $3,000,000 annually for the city and that the revenue split in the city’s formula is roughly 40.9% to police, 40.9% to fire, and 19% to the general fund. Russell also clarified what the levy applies to: "Earned income would be only on income you're earning currently. It doesn't affect Social Security, pensions, any other...deferments that you've gotten from previous employment," he said.
Council members moved to waive the second reading and adopt the ordinance at the same meeting. The motion to waive the second reading was made and seconded on the floor; the subsequent motion to adopt passed on an 8-0 roll-call vote.
Why it matters: The continued levy would preserve a revenue stream city officials say supports public safety staffing and general municipal services. If voters approve the continuation on May 6, collections under the 0.25% rate would begin Jan. 1, 2026 and remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2035 unless altered by subsequent council action or voter approval.
Council provided no additional details in the meeting about estimated changes to resident tax liability if the measure passes; the city manager’s $3 million figure reflects current collections under the existing rate. The ordinance and companion resolution were entered on the record as the council’s formal action.
The council’s formal motions and vote tallies on the ordinance and resolution are recorded in the meeting minutes.