Hamilton County Issue 7 — Southwest Local School District: Earnings Tax (current expenses)

What it does

Southwest Local School District — Earnings Tax — 0.25% — current expenses — CPT

A YES vote means

Southwest Local School District would levy a 0.25% earnings tax for current expenses, for a continuing period of time.

A NO vote means

Southwest Local School District would not levy this 0.25% earnings tax.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

According to the district, Southwest Local School District has levied a 0.75% school district earned income tax on residents since January 1, 2007. It applies to earned income only, not retirement income, interest, dividends or capital gains.

The Hamilton County Board of Elections lists this question as an additional 0.25% earnings tax for current expenses, for a continuing period.

FOX19 reported that the district is seeking the income tax after its 4-mill property tax levy failed in May 2026, and that district officials attribute about $3 million in budget cuts to the state's biennium budget.

Put on the ballot by Southwest Local School District Board of Education.

From official source 1, official source 2.

In the news

• Election 2026: Voters to decide funding future of 12 Southwest Ohio school districts · FOX19

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Hamilton County ballots

• Hamilton County Issue 4 — Cincinnati Public Schools: Tax Levy- Additional (current expenses)
• Hamilton County Issue 5 — North College Hill City School District: Earnings Tax (current expenses)
• Hamilton County Issue 8 — Sycamore Community City School District: Tax Levy- Additional (current expenses & permanent improvements)
• Hamilton County Issue 9 — Winton Woods City School District: Tax Levy- Additional (current expenses)

All Hamilton County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Hamilton County Issue 7 mean?

Southwest Local School District would levy a 0.25% earnings tax for current expenses, for a continuing period of time.

What does a NO vote on Hamilton County Issue 7 mean?

Southwest Local School District would not levy this 0.25% earnings tax.

How many votes does Hamilton County Issue 7 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on Hamilton County Issue 7?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.