COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans are feeling sticker shock as property taxes across the state have doubled or even tripled, prompting calls for relief from residents and debates among state lawmakers.
The Governor’s Property Tax Reform Work Group is working to find solutions that provide relief without harming entities that rely on these revenues, such as school districts. The group, made up of county leaders, school officials, former legislators, and business experts, has until September to issue a report with concrete proposals.
On Aug. 14, the group discussed five key concepts, focusing primarily on school levies: reducing school district property taxes and limiting cash balance carryovers; restricting property tax levies; including substitute and emergency levies in the 20-mill floor calculation; outlining county budget commission authority and procedures; and limiting property tax increases through an inflation cap.
Ax OH Tax, a grassroots organization is working to place a constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes on the ballot. Petitioners aim for the May ballot and plan to announce once they have collected half of the 413,000 signatures required, though some lawmakers have criticized the approach as extreme.
River News Network is hosting a petition drive. You can sign the petition every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the WOMP studios on High Ridge Road in Bellaire or the River Studios at the Fort Steubenville Mall (Walmart entrance).
