Key Accomplishments

Creating Jobs and Fighting Waste

As a city coucilman and county commissioner, David Pepper fought hard for taxpayers and to reform government. Here are some of his key accomplishments:

Economic Growth and Job Creation

• David has successfully fought for job growth and the economic revitalization of Cincinnati, the County, and the region.  His leadership has helped lead to major revitalization projects such as the Fountain Square project, the Banks Project on the riverfront, and the ongoing revitalization of Over the Rhine, along with record growth in the City/County tourism business.  His priority for economic development work has helped retain and create thousands of jobs in Hamilton County.

As President of the County Commission, he is currently implementing a County Recovery Strategy to stimulate short- and long-term job creation, and make key infrastructure investments throughout the County. David has fought to support middle class families, including helping save more than 1200 homes from impending foreclosure since early 2007, launching a discount prescription drug card for Hamilton County families, and initiating the “Make Work Pay” initiative for working families, pulling in millions of additional dollars to the local economy

Fiscal Responsibility and Eliminating Waste

• Between Cincinnati City Council and Hamilton County, David helped lead the way to seven balanced budgets through difficult times, standing up against higher taxes in those budgets, while keeping a lid on spending through cuts, reforms and eliminating waste
• At Cincinnati City Council:
  • in four years, spending rose only 1.6% (significantly under inflation)
  • in those budgets, David voted to reduce the property tax rate every year (a total 10.5% decrease in the millage over that time)
• At Hamilton County Commission:
  • spending after four years was 20% below the spending level inherited after 2006
  • in the 2010 budget, David balanced the budget by reducing spending to 1998 levels
  • despite calls for raising taxes to get through the 2009 budget, David held the line to keep Hamilton County as the lowest sales tax rate (6.5%) of any large county in the state; according to Forbes, Hamilton County also has the lowest property tax of Ohio’s largest urban counties
• At the City and the County, David has supported numerous spending reforms and accountability measures:
  • eliminating bureaucracy and waste, including targeting high-paid political and appointed positions, wasteful and improper contracts, and unnecessary spending on non-essential items
  • supporting reform of Council salaries, and giving back his own raises at tough times
  • targeting perks such as double dipping and take home  cars
  • exploring and implementing shared/consolidated services among County, Cincinnati and local governments
  • providing incentives (“gainsharing”) for employees to identify savings
  • pushing for transparent performance measurement of County and City results
  • closing tax loopholes and cracking down on property tax scofflaws