Cincinnati’s City Council Budget Committee voted 8-1 on Monday, October 26 to advance a plan for spending the city’s future cannabis tax revenue, directing the largest shares to home repairs and childhood lead poisoning prevention, with the full City Council expected to take up the proposal on Wednesday, October 28.
The city expects about $1.8 million in cannabis tax revenue in the next fiscal year. Under the proposal, that future revenue would no longer simply land in the General Fund, as earlier collections did. Instead it would flow into a restricted fund with fixed shares for five programs, an arrangement city officials have discussed managing in partnership with the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which could also help attract private contributions.
The proposed split is specific: 25 percent for home repairs, 25 percent for childhood lead poisoning prevention, 20 percent for new homeownership opportunities, 15 percent for children’s savings accounts, and 15 percent for youth employment through the Youth to Work program. Home repairs and lead prevention would be the two largest single allocations, together accounting for half the fund.
Supporters frame the plan as a way to direct cannabis-related revenue toward housing conditions, public health and communities affected by the historical criminalization of marijuana. The home repair share could help eligible homeowners address housing conditions and keep properties safe and livable, while the homeownership share is aimed at creating new opportunities for buyers.
The committee vote does not finish the job. The proposal still needs full council approval on October 28, and after that the city would have to establish the restricted fund, formalize how the money is allocated, decide how eligible communities and applicants are identified, and set application procedures for each program.
That means residents should not yet treat the percentages as a promise of individual assistance. Eligibility rules, qualifying repairs and application dates have not been set, and the city says those details will come through official announcements if the plan is approved and implemented.
If council adopts the plan this week, Cincinnati would join the Ohio cities putting a dedicated, public formula around cannabis tax dollars — and the debate would shift from how to divide the money to how quickly the five programs can be stood up and measured.