COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s long-running debate over property taxes has entered a new phase, with the General Assembly sending four bills to Governor Mike DeWine aimed at delivering roughly $2 billion in tax relief to landowners across the state.
The legislation — advanced largely by Senate Republicans — comes as a countermeasure to a growing grassroots movement led by the public interest group Ax Ohio Tax, which is seeking to abolish property taxes altogether.
Two of the bills, House Bills 129 and 309, contain provisions similar to measures DeWine vetoed in the state budget back in June. At that time, the governor acknowledged Ohioans’ concerns about rising property taxes but opposed proposals that would allow county commissioners to alter voter-approved levies. DeWine argued such a move would undermine decisions made directly at the ballot box.
Now, with all four property tax bills on his desk, DeWine must again weigh the balance between providing relief and preserving local control.
The package marks the latest development in an escalating statewide dispute over how to ease the tax burden on property owners, even as statewide groups and lawmakers push competing visions for reform.
Ax Ohio Tax continues its petition drive to abolish property taxes in the state of Ohio.
River News is hosting local petition signing sites. The campaign to eliminate property taxes is led by Ax Ohio Tax, https://axohtax.com/You can find continuing coverage on the Ohio property tax issue at rivernews.org
