Sunbury Income Tax Growth Stalls at 0.1% as Business Profit Collections Drop
Employer withholding and individual returns increased as business net profit fell ahead of an Oct. 21 capital budget review.
Municipal income tax revenue in Sunbury ground to a virtual halt through the third quarter of 2026, as a steep collapse in corporate net profit collections offset gains in worker payroll withholding and individual returns.
City comparative financial records show Sunbury accumulated total tax revenue of $4,562,881 through September 2026, representing a 0.1% change over the $4,560,407 collected in 2025. The modest increase of $2,474 marks an abrupt deceleration following three consecutive years of double-digit percentage expansion. Municipal comparison tables show collections experienced robust annual growth rates of 16.7% in 2025, 13.6% in 2024, and 15.4% in 2023. Over the five-year record, nine-month collections rose from $2,978,718 in 2022 to $3,438,589 in 2023, $3,907,557 in 2024, and $4,560,407 in 2025, before flattening out in 2026.
Business Profit Plunge and Payroll Strength
The revenue plateau was primarily caused by business net profit tax receipts, which plunged 53.1% year over year, dropping by more than $386,000. City financial records show net profit collections fell to $341,228 in 2026 compared to $727,829 in 2025. The commercial tax drop followed net profit collections of $229,306 in 2022, $428,896 in 2023, and $395,670 in 2024.
A broader contraction in overall municipal revenue was averted by sustained growth in local employment payrolls and resident filings. Employer withholding collections rose to $2,860,426 in 2026, up from $2,523,032 in 2025. Withholding receipts increased 13.4% over 2025, maintaining steady annual growth from $1,847,633 in 2022, $2,087,110 in 2023, and $2,341,261 in 2024.
Receipts from individual returns increased to $1,361,227 in 2026 from $1,309,546 in 2025. Individual tax collections gained 3.9% over the prior year, continuing an upward trajectory from $901,778 in 2022, $922,583 in 2023, and $1,170,626 in 2024.
Sunbury Town Hall at 51 E. Cherry Street, pictured behind a flowering dogwood tree on the town square lawn.
Credit: City of Sunbury Image source
Upcoming Budget Reviews and Municipal Reserves
The third-quarter revenue figures arrive as municipal leaders prepare to evaluate capital spending plans and adjust current-year operational appropriations.
The Sunbury Finance Committee is scheduled to meet Oct. 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. to review Appropriation Updates 2026 (Second amended), the 2027 Capital Budget, and YTD Comparison Reports. The committee's next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Nov. 18, 2026.
Sunbury City Council is scheduled to meet Oct. 21, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Sunbury Town Hall, 51 E. Cherry Street. The council agenda lists for first reading Ordinance No. 2026.01.2 Second Amended, an ordinance amending the 2026 annual appropriations.
Despite flattened tax revenue, Sunbury maintained substantial municipal reserves at the close of the third quarter. City financial records show a total bank balance of $24,560,086.31 on Sept. 30, 2026. Municipal holdings included $16,526,106.19 held in Fifth Third Securities, $3,463,652.28 in STAR Ohio, and $4,631,675.10 in First Commonwealth Bank, offset by $61,347.26 in outstanding checks.
Sunbury lists Dana Steffan as Director of Finance. An interview request submitted to Steffan regarding the third-quarter revenue results and upcoming capital budget deliberations remained pending Monday ahead of the committee meeting.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Finance Committee · 10/21/2026 City of Sunbury Finance Committee Meeting · agenda
Supporting evidence (8)
City comparative financial records show Sunbury accumulated total tax revenue of $4,562,881 through September 2026, representing a 0.1% change over the $4,560,407 collected in 2025.
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Year-to-date income tax collections through September 2026 by category (5-yr history) YTD 2026 Income Tax Category 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 Withholding $2,860,426 $2,523,032 $2,341,261 $2,087,110 $1,847,633 Individual 1,361,227 1,309,546 1,170,626 922,583 901,778 Net Profit 341,228 727,829 395,670 428,896 229,306 Total Tax Revenue $4,562,881 $4,560,407 $3,907,557 $3,438,589 $2,978,718 % change 0.1% 16.7% 13.6% 15.4%
Over the five-year record, nine-month collections rose from $2,978,718 in 2022 to $3,438,589 in 2023, $3,907,557 in 2024, and $4,560,407 in 2025, before flattening out in 2026.
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Year-to-date income tax collections through September 2026 by category (5-yr history) YTD 2026 Income Tax Category 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 Withholding $2,860,426 $2,523,032 $2,341,261 $2,087,110 $1,847,633 Individual 1,361,227 1,309,546 1,170,626 922,583 901,778 Net Profit 341,228 727,829 395,670 428,896 229,306 Total Tax Revenue $4,562,881 $4,560,407 $3,907,557 $3,438,589 $2,978,718 % change 0.1% 16.7% 13.6% 15.4%
City financial records show net profit collections fell to $341,228 in 2026 compared to $727,829 in 2025.
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Year-to-date income tax collections through September 2026 by category (5-yr history) YTD 2026 Income Tax Category 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 Withholding $2,860,426 $2,523,032 $2,341,261 $2,087,110 $1,847,633 Individual 1,361,227 1,309,546 1,170,626 922,583 901,778 Net Profit 341,228 727,829 395,670 428,896 229,306 Total Tax Revenue $4,562,881 $4,560,407 $3,907,557 $3,438,589 $2,978,718 % change 0.1% 16.7% 13.6% 15.4%
Employer withholding collections rose to $2,860,426 in 2026, up from $2,523,032 in 2025.
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Year-to-date income tax collections through September 2026 by category (5-yr history) YTD 2026 Income Tax Category 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 Withholding $2,860,426 $2,523,032 $2,341,261 $2,087,110 $1,847,633 Individual 1,361,227 1,309,546 1,170,626 922,583 901,778 Net Profit 341,228 727,829 395,670 428,896 229,306 Total Tax Revenue $4,562,881 $4,560,407 $3,907,557 $3,438,589 $2,978,718 % change 0.1% 16.7% 13.6% 15.4%
Receipts from individual returns increased to $1,361,227 in 2026 from $1,309,546 in 2025.
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Year-to-date income tax collections through September 2026 by category (5-yr history) YTD 2026 Income Tax Category 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 Withholding $2,860,426 $2,523,032 $2,341,261 $2,087,110 $1,847,633 Individual 1,361,227 1,309,546 1,170,626 922,583 901,778 Net Profit 341,228 727,829 395,670 428,896 229,306 Total Tax Revenue $4,562,881 $4,560,407 $3,907,557 $3,438,589 $2,978,718 % change 0.1% 16.7% 13.6% 15.4%
The Sunbury Finance Committee is scheduled to meet Oct. 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. to review Appropriation Updates 2026 (Second amended), the 2027 Capital Budget, and YTD Comparison Reports.
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Finance Committee · 10/21/2026 City of Sunbury Finance Committee Meeting · agenda Page 1 FINANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA October 21st 2026 at 6:30 PM Roll Call Minutes September 16, 2026 New/Unfinished Business Appropriation Updates 2026 (Second amended) 2027 Capital Budget YTD Comparison Reports
The committee's next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Nov. 18, 2026.
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Adjournment – Next Meeting November 18th, 2026
City financial records show a total bank balance of $24,560,086.31 on Sept. 30, 2026.
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Bank Balances 9/30/2026 Fifth Third Securities $ 16,526,106.19 STAROhio 3,463,652.28 First Commonwealth Bank 4,631,675.10 Total $24,621,433.57 Outstanding Checks (61,347.26) BANK BALANCE $24,560,086.31
Council · 10/21/2026 City Council Meeting · agenda
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Sunbury City Council is scheduled to meet Oct. 21, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Sunbury Town Hall, 51 E. Cherry Street.
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Council · 10/21/2026 City Council Meeting · agenda Page 1 AGENDA OF BUSINESS REGULAR MEETING OF COUNCIL Meeting Location: Sunbury Town Hall 51 E. Cherry Street, 3rd Floor, Sunbury, Ohio 43074 October 21, 2026 at 7:30 P.M.
The council agenda lists for first reading Ordinance No. 2026.01.2 Second Amended, an ordinance amending the 2026 annual appropriations.
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First Readings ORDINANCE. NO. 2026.01.2 SECOND AMENDED AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2026 ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS.
https://sunburyvillage.com/184/Finance
Supporting evidence (1)
Sunbury lists Dana Steffan as Director of Finance.
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Dana Steffan Director Of Finance