BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio – Higher property taxes have many Belmont County homeowners asking how they will manage to pay their tax bill and what will happen if they can’t pay.
River News Network asked Belmont County Treasurer Katherine Kelich about tax collection and options for property owners struggling with their bills. Kelich also explained how levies affect property taxes.
Kelich explained that her office collects taxes but does not set tax rates or participate in the property re-evaluations.
the Treasurer is actually the chief investment officer for the county, as well as the banker.
Belmont County Treasurer Katherine Kelich
Kelich said the State of Ohio has inside and outside milage for taxes. There is a 10 mil inside cap for municipalities and schools to take taxes. Citizens do not vote on these taxes, but the levies they vote on do affect taxes.
“There are levies that citizens vote on. For tax year 2024, there are new levies or replacement levies in place that would result in the tax increase.”
Belmont County Treasurer Katherine Kelich
Outside milage includes taxes above the 10 mil cap. These are the extras, levies, that citizens vote on. Kelich said all of the levies in place now in Belmont County are renewal levies so there will be no tax increases from those.
However, the levies that are in place still add to your property tax bill. Kelich says people should consider whether they can afford a levy, even if it’s for an entity they support like a school or fire department.
“I mean, really, it’s tugging at your heartstrings, but it’s tugging on your purse strings, too…
Belmont County Treasurer Katherine Kelich
I’ll give you an example. I had a gentleman last year. Very nice man. He came and then he was like, ‘I cannot afford this. I cannot afford my taxes.” Well, we happened to have one of the fire districts put a levy on, and I said, ‘Wow, we had this levy. That’s what caused the increase that year.”
Kelich explained that for every $100,000 taxed for one mil on a levy, the property owner pays $35.
“for every $100,000 for one mil, $35 comes out of your pocket, so if you have a $400,000 house, you’re looking at $140.”
Belmont County Treasurer Katherine Kelich
Tomorrow, Friday, February 21, is the deadline to pay real estate tax and manufactured home tax payments in Belmont County.
A five percent penalty will be added to any current year payments made within the first ten days after the due date. Thereafter, all unpaid bills will have a ten percent penalty added to the current year unpaid balance.
If a tax bill is not paid, the property can be sold in a tax lien sale or go into foreclosure. A private company, Nars, could buy the tax debt and repay the county, but the property owner would be responsible for entering a repayment contract with that company.
Kelich urges anyone having trouble paying their property taxes to contact her office first. She says she and her staff are available and willing to work with homeowners who may qualify for a payment plan with the county.
For more information, contact the Belmont County Treasurer’s Office online or by phone at (740) 699-2145.
