NOTRE DAME, IN.— Students with the Notre Dame Student Policy Network (SPN) were recognized by news outlets for their work with the Center for Land Economics on evaluating a potential land value tax in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Unlike conventional property taxes, a land value tax would tax land (the valuation of the dirt a building resides on) at a higher rate than improvements (any development on the land like constructing or renovating a building). Proponents argue that by taxing land at a higher rate, legislators can encourage development and disincentivize speculation on vacant lots, which can artificially drive up housing prices.
The team of Notre Dame students worked with Executive Director and Co-Founder for the Center for Land Economics Greg Miller ‘22, who in his time at the University of Notre Dame co-founded Student Policy Network. The Center for Land Economics is a nonprofit think tank that conducts research and provides educational tools to promote equitable land assessments and discourage speculation.
The authors of the report used Hamilton County assessor data at the parcel level and Census data to model a revenue-neutral split-rate tax that would tax land at four times the rate of improvements. Through careful analysis, the team found that approximately $1.87 billion in land value, or one in five parcels, sits vacant or undeveloped in the city – most of which lies in Cincinnati’s most valuable neighborhoods. After simulating the tax, they found that between 63% and 70% of multi-family parcels would see tax cuts above 10% while vacant parcels would see a median tax increase of about 126%. Additionally, the tax would be progressive. The lowest-income neighborhoods would see their residential median tax burden decrease by roughly 17% while only the highest-income quintile would experience a median increase in their tax burden.
Curtis Brashaw ‘28 and Rowan Miller ‘28 led a team of eight Notre Dame students throughout the research process. They both appreciated the opportunity to put numbers behind a policy proposal. Rowan explained that the project “showed that SPN research doesn’t have to remain theoretical… Performing the analysis with real Cincinnati data made theory feel tangible to our team and to Senator Blessing… Such quantitative analysis turns an abstract idea into a concrete proposal for legislators and stakeholders alike.” Brashaw continued, emphasizing the importance of changing legislation to allow for a land value tax and expressing his excitement about the fact that their work “directly supports the passing and implementation of Ohio Senate Joint Resolution 7, which seeks to allow municipalities to do a land value tax shift.”
The co-leads also noted the report would not have been possible without the diligence of their team: Julia Connolly ‘29, William Ehrhard ‘29, William Huguenin ‘29, Grace Hunt ‘29, Kyle Lauckner ‘28, Brett Molka ‘28, Daniella Morales-Garibay ‘28, and Dalton Vaughn ‘29.
“The work of the students has helped bring data to a real policy debate playing across Ohio,” said Greg Miller. “The state is considering enabling legislation for a land value tax, and the research is already being used by elected officials and organizations to understand the impact.”
For media coverage, see the Ohio Capital Journal and WVXU. The full report is available on the Center for Land Economics website, linked here.
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The University of Notre Dame Student Policy Network is the University’s premier public policy organization. The student-led club provides research and policy consulting for think tanks, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. Student Policy Network offers projects on a wide variety of issues, including environmental conservation, foreign affairs, housing law, and many more. The club has over 200 undergraduate members. To learn more, visit our website at spnclub.nd.edu.