Ravenna income tax levy: City Council reviews May 5 vote results and what it means for the city’s rate

Ravenna voters decided the fate of a proposed 0.25% municipal income tax increase on the May 5, 2026 ballot.

Portage County’s unofficial canvass lists the question as 203 FOR and 250 AGAINST. That result means the additional 0.25% was not approved to take effect July 1, 2026.

Ballot recap: what voters were being asked to approve

According to the Portage County Board of Elections’ issue description, the proposal would have increased Ravenna’s municipal income tax rate by 0.25% for 30 years starting July 1, 2026, to support planning and constructing (and related work on) fire-station, police-station, and city-hall building purposes.

Official outcome: the measure lost in the canvass

In the Portage County canvass summary for the May 5 primary, the Ravenna city income tax question is recorded as 203 FOR and 250 AGAINST.

Because the measure did not carry, residents should not expect the proposed rate increase to begin on July 1, 2026.

What taxpayers should expect next: Ravenna’s current baseline rate

The City of Ravenna Finance Department describes the city’s current municipal income tax rate as 2.5% on wages and profits earned within the city limits.

With the proposed 0.25% increase failing, the city’s baseline rate remains aligned with the 2.5% figure described by Finance.

Where City Council fits in

In its June 1, 2026 regular meeting packet (posted July 2, 2026), Ravenna City Council listed communications that included the election results of the May 5, 2026 municipal income tax levy from the Portage County Board of Elections.

What to watch

While this specific ballot measure did not pass, facility/capital priorities connected to the proposal could still resurface through future budgeting and planning decisions. Residents may want to follow upcoming City Council agenda items for how Ravenna approaches those priorities without the extra 0.25% starting in July.

Sources

• Portage County BOE legal notices (Issue 7: Ravenna City Income Tax)
• City of Ravenna Finance—Income tax rate and tax facts