BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – Belmont County residents remain upset over increased property taxes, with many asking county officials why their tax bills have increased sometimes by more than 40 percent than previous bills.
Two residents, Hank Martin and Luke Coudis, questioned Belmont County Commissioners about the increase at the Board of Commissioners regular meeting on Wednesday.
Martin questioned if issues like marijuana legalization can be on the ballot, why can’t property tax increases be voted on?
“I know it [tax increase] wasn’t just the county. that comes from the state down. I was hoping that some of you guys could find out how the state could do that. I mean, you had to put marijuana on the ballot to make it legal with the taxes the same way, the way they raised them. And I mean, it’s a hardship, especially for some of these retired folks, and stuff trying to make it. We need some kind of relief off of that.”
Hank Martin, Belmont County taxpayer
Commissioner J.P. Dutton explained that the State of Ohio mandates that counties revalue properties every six years. He said not all 88 counties are revalued at the same time but they are done in three groups per cycle. He said other nearby counties seeing current high re-evaluations include Jefferson and Muskingum Counties.
“there’s a six-year cycle that every county goes through in terms of the value of the properties and then taxes they filled with that. So the tax rates didn’t change, what has changed is the valuation of the properties. Now some of the re-evaluations have changed drastically for some individuals. Some 30, 40%, you know, really sizable changes.
Belmont County Commissioner J.P. Dutton
Dutton says commissioners are talking to state representatives about the property values and it’s a hot topic in Columbus.
“we are talking to our state representatives. I’ve talked to a couple of the [other] county commissioners who are going through the same thing. I’ve been told by state representatives this is the number one thing they’re talking about right now in Columbus.”
Belmont County Commissioner J.P. Dutton
Dutton explained that property owners can appeal values through the auditors office. He said the process involves the Board of Revision, on which commissioner Vince Gianangeli is a member.
Dutton pointed to Belmont County reducing and eliminating some levies such as the children’s services levy as a savings for taxpayers.
Belmont County resident Luke Coudis said he has a property that the recent re-evaluation said was worth $54,000 but he had it appraised by a professional, local realtor for just $18,000. He questioned why the county does not employ local people to value properties rather than third-party firms.
“If she [realtor] could do one house in 15 minutes, again, why are we farming out this work to People that have no clue about the property values or this area? but how do you go from $54,000 to somebody that actually did their job and looked at a house, a certified licensed professional, to have another guy come up with $18,500? I mean, literally three times the amount, come on guys.”
Luke Coudis, Belmont County taxpayer
In other business, the commissioners approved travel for county workers.
They also announced a meeting schedule change. The Belmont County Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 9 a.m. due to a
scheduling conflict.
