Entries by Todd Zinser

Center Hill Solar Array

    Center Hill Landfill presentation Center Hill Transmittal, city manager    The city council is fixin to approve $12 million at tomorrow’s meeting (1.22.26) for another solar energy project.  Remember, the city already has the New Market solar farm. The location for this new project is the Center Hill landfill. I’m still trying to […]

The sale of the Cincinnati Southern Railway

Given current controversy about the city’s inability to use the railway trust proceeds in a timely way, questions are resurfacing about the sale of the CSR. So, I will be using this folder to post CSR-related documents. Beginning with an FAQ that the Board of Trustees published in February 2023.   CSR Board FAQs 2.6.23_compressed […]

The Status of “Cincy on Track.” (Spoiler Alert: We were right)

    Cincy on Track 1.14.26 Cincy on Track Summary 1.14.26   At today’s city council meeting, the city manager provided a report on “Cincy on Track,” which is the city manager’s plan to spend the Railway money . Maybe this was her response to all the bad publicity the city administration has been receiving […]

Proposed income tax increase – Episode 42

Funding Priorities for Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Attachment reconciliation highlighted   In this episode, we discuss the recent proposal to increase the earnings tax in Cincinnati, examining the city’s financial situation, including the impact of COVID relief funds and previous tax increases. The podcast argues that the city has sufficient funds and questions the […]

Cincinnati once rolled back property taxes. Those days are over.

  This latest op-ed, published today (January 11th) is essentially the same message as Episode 41 of “Citizen Watchdog with Todd Zinser.” This mayor and the majority of this city council have already raised taxes – the city property tax in 2022! And now they are already coming for another tax increase? Only this time […]

What Happened to Cincinnati’s COVID $$$

  We are looking into Cincinnati’s use of State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, which were the pandemic relief funds specifically directed to local governments Most people are probably under the impression that the “COVID money” for cities were intended to help the cities just “keep the lights on.”  That is not the case. The […]

Raising Taxes – Episode 41

In this episode of Citizen Watchdog, Todd Zinser discusses the complexities of taxation in Cincinnati, focusing on the recent tax increases, historical context, and the implications of government spending. He critiques the current city council’s approach to managing taxes and budgets, emphasizing the need for fiscal responsibility and transparency in public finance. The conversation also […]

About the Cincinnati Oversight Project

The Cincinnati Oversight Project was established in January 2026 to promote transparency and accountability in local government in Hamilton County, Ohio. Building on independent research, commentary, and public records work through Citizen Watchdog with Todd Zinser, the Project seeks to demonstrate how effective oversight can improve government performance, strengthen institutional culture, and better protect the […]

Cincinnati Tax Matters

2132 T TTB city council 12.14.22 90-2022 TTB Ordinance 12.14.22 For over 20 years, the city kept its share of the property tax assessments “rolled back” from the 6.1 mills maximum established by the city charter. In 2022, just before the increased property assessments took effect, the city council quickly and quietly eliminated the roll […]