Paul Brown Stadium

(Cincinnati, Oh.) - Hamilton County's sales tax may be increased in order to pay off the debt on two stadiums.

Democrat County Commissioner Todd Portune is suggesting his fellow commissioners consider a quarter-percent hike to pad the fund that's paying off construction debt on Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park.

The projected stadium fund deficit for 2013 is $7 million and $18 million in 2014. A series of one-year solutions have been used to keep the county current on its payments in recent years.

The sales tax hike from 6.5 percent up to 7.25 percent would generate $30 million a year.

Another option for closing the deficit would be to end the property tax rollback promised to voters when the stadiums were approved in 1996. Portune says, however, that option would place an unfair burden on Hamilton County property owners.

A sales tax would apply to consumers from all around the tri-state who make purchases in Hamilton County.

Republican Commissioner Greg Hartman said he is open to discussing a sales tax increase, but has favored reducing the tax rollback.

A decision must be made by December 5 when property tax rates are set.