Cincinnati Home Tax Abatement Discrimination Suit Survives Dismissal

Black Cincinnati residents are allowed to proceed with a proposed class action lawsuit against the city for alleged discrimination in a tax abatement program that provides homeowners benefits for renovations, a federal court ruled.

The plaintiffs’ allegation that the policy had a “disparate impact,” in which the program disproportionately harmed marginalized communities, had enough substance to advance in court.

The tax abatement program at issue allows all Cincinnati homeowners to renovate their homes but still pay taxes on the pre-renovated real estate price. Some Black homeowners said that about half the tax benefits have gone to White neighborhoods, with nearly ...