You might be asked to pay more in sales taxes to cover Hamilton County's budget woes

Hamilton County’s financial problems may mean you’ll pay a quarter percent more when shopping.

Hamilton County administration has recommended a quarter percentage point increase in the sales tax to cover a $28 million deficit expected in the operations of the county government.

The sales tax would go on the November ballot for voter approval if the county commissioners decide to pursue that route.

Next year, the county's revenues are expected to drop more than at any time since the Great Recession 10 years ago, said Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune, the board of commissioners president.

“This is not a scenario we typically face every year,” Portune said.

Portune blamed the state government, which has asked more of local governments and slashed their funding. Hamilton County gets $15 million less from the state than it did in 2000 and also has lost $9 million because of changes in the law resulting in it not being able to collect sales taxes off Medicaid Managed Care.

And that means you might be asked to pay more.

For 2019, the county administration’s proposal would mean the total county and state sales tax would be 7.25 percent. That’s still less than what you pay on goods in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) — which has an 8 percent sales tax — and Franklin County (Columbus) — 7.5 percent tax.

The increased tax burden would be temporary because the quarter percentage point Union Terminal sales tax expires in 2020. The removal of that tax would once again put the state and local sales tax rate in Hamilton County at 7 percent.

Cutting the budget to cover the $28 million gap would be difficult, said City Administrator Jeff Aluotto. The county has already cut so much, he said.

“There are no more Queensgate jails to close,” said Aluotto, referring to the 2008 closure of the 800-bed jail in Queensgate.

The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners will schedule public meetings over the next two months on the issue and plans to have a decision by June. The deadline to put a tax increase on the November ballot is August.

“This is an important issue that affects not just people that live in Hamilton County, but our decisions will have an operative effect on all the people in the Hamilton County/Cincinnati metro region,” Portune said.

More: Flood damage? You could qualify for tax relief

More: WalletHub says Ohio has some of the highest taxes in the country