Ohioans for Property Tax Reform

10/02/2023

Seems our Ohio government is busy passing bills to help save seniors from the high property tax increases... wondering when they will do something to help middle class home owners? https://legiscan.com/OH/bill/SB43/2023

09/12/2023

I finally heard from our state representative, Riordan McClain. He totally agreed these exorbitant tax increases are not fair and is working to come up with a permanent solution to make property taxes more fair. He said there are several bills being proposed, but they are just a bandaid and don't really fix the problem for all home owners.

He said it does help for more homeowners to call their state representative and senator to complain. So I'm encouraging more people to call today. We can make a difference.

09/12/2023

According to the Morrow county auditor our property value went up 43 percent and the tax estimation tool says our taxes are going up $1900 a year. Not sure how we're going to afford that since our income doesn't increase at that high rate. As usual it seems middle class doesn't get all the help the government provides for low income and seniors.

It's totally unsustainable.

09/08/2023

This Columbus Sentator wants to limit property tax increases to 3% a year. This sounds better to me than some other bills being proposed? Sounds a little similar to Prop 13 in California. What do you think?

"A state senator is calling on Ohio lawmakers to limit how much property taxes can increase annually to 3%.

Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) says there are several cities around the state that are seeing property values increase and with that, higher property taxes.

https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2019-12-16/lawmaker-seeks-cap-to-ohio-property-tax-increases
Craig says the thriving housing market is a good thing, "But at the same time we want to make sure that there's parity, that there's real opportunity for folks to stay in place for our seniors and others that have paid off their homes and can be deleteriously affected by the exorbitant increase in property taxes."

A state senator is calling on Ohio lawmakers to limit how much property taxes can increase annually to 3%.Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) says there are…

09/08/2023

Property tax hikes are definitely in a crisis sitution, not just for low income, but also for middle income families.

"These increases are gonna be brutal," Lang said. "If we can successfully pull this off, it will at least put a band-aid on it."

Both Nix and Stinziano described that plan as a short-term fix for a long-term problem.

"It helps lessen the crisis," Nix said. "It doesn’t solve the crisis."

Butler County, for example, expects assessed values on homes to increase up to 42% once the current mandatory valuation is complete.

09/07/2023

"State Rep. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond) said high property tax valuations means homeowners are getting hit with huge tax hikes — as much as 43% in some cases.

"Increases that mirrored inflation would be shocking enough. But to go up 43%, and to be dictated to raise them to 43% by an unelected bureaucrat in Columbus, is very concerning and very shocking," Bird said."

An Ohio House bill aims to prevent big property tax hikes, flatten income taxes and change the homestead tax, but opponents say it won't help many homeowners.

09/07/2023

ONLY 13 STATE REPS HAVE SIGNED THIS LEGISLATION? What about the rest of Ohio? We need to put pressure on our state government to limit property tax increases. I'm not sure this bill is the best option, but more state reps and senators needs to take action to limit property tax increases in Ohio.

"COLUMBUS – With growing concerns over persistent increases in property taxes in many Ohio counties, state legislators at the Ohio House of Representatives like Representative Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) are trying to ease the tax burden put on home owners.

Property tax in Ohio is determined by the tax rate and property valuation from the previous year. In the 86th House District, Union County has the 12th highest tax rate out of Ohio’s 88 counties, collecting more than $2,400 per property per year based on the average median home value in the county.

“Union County has experienced significant growth in recent years, which has also lead to a rise in property value,” said Richardson. “The result of this increase is a rise in out-of-pocket tax payments that creates an additional burden for hard working and retired residents and that could deter new home owners from moving to the county.”

The recently introduced Ohio Homeowners Relief Act will modify the procedures used by the state Tax Commissioner to conduct property tax sales assessment ratio studies. Specifically, the bill will require the commissioner to work with local elected officials and weigh the past three years of a county’s property values in order to determine property tax.

“With property reevaluations happening every three years, especially in fast growing communities, property taxes can increase significantly for a home owner,” Richardson added. “A sales ration study can help decrease drastic tax increases and prevent putting home owners in financial difficulty.”

The legislation will go into effect for the 2023 tax year once passed.

The Ohio Homeowners Relief Act has been introduced by State Representatives Thomas Hall (R-Madison Twp.) and Adam Bird (R-New Richmond) and currently has 13 co-sponsors.

The Ohio Homeowners Relief Act awaits assignment to a committee."

COLUMBUS – With growing concerns over persistent increases in property taxes in many Ohio counties, state legislators at the Ohio House of Representatives like Representative Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) are trying to ease the tax burden put on home owners. Property tax in Ohio is determined by...

09/07/2023

"WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) - Butler County property values and taxes are about to go up in a big way again. In the last 10 years, property values, residential property values, have increased by 120% while median incomes have only increased by 30%,” Butler County Auditor Nancy Nix"

She recommends residents start saving now.

“I’m seriously worried about Middletown,” she said. “They have the highest tax rates. They are seeing the highest increases.”

'What happens to the elderly person that’s on a fixed income that can’t afford this increase?'

09/07/2023

"Butler County near Cincinnati is projecting a 42% increase this year. That doesn't translate to a corresponding increase in property taxes. But the hit to some property tax bills could be, as Butler County Auditor Nancy Nix put it, "catastrophic" for those on fixed incomes."

Summit County, for example, expects assessed values on homes to increase up to 34% once the current mandatory valuation is complete.

09/07/2023

Ohioans pay some of the highest property taxes. Why doesn't our government do more to help home owners?

(The Center Square) – Ohioans pay some of the highest property taxes in the country, above each of its neighboring states and significantly higher than three of its neighboring states.

09/07/2023

More info on California's Prop 13 and Prop 8, to limit property tax increases.

"The assessed value of a property is limited to an increase no greater than 2% each year unless a change in ownership or new construction occurs. The 2% increase is originally applied to the base year value, and is thus referred to as the factored base year value. In the case of real property, the factored base year value is the upper limit for property tax purposes. The maximum 2% increase per year continues to be applied until a change in ownership or new construction occurs, even if a temporarily reduced value has been put on the roll under Proposition 8."

Proposition 13 established the concepts of a base year value for property tax assessments, and limitations on the tax rate and assessment increase for real property. Passed by voters in June 1978, Prop 13 is an amendment to the California Constitution How Proposition 13 Works Proposition 13 provides...

09/07/2023

After calling your Ohio state representative, please also call your State Senator to urge them to enact legislation to limit property tax increases in Ohio. You can find your STATE SENATOR here: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/members/senate-directory. THEN PLEASE SHARE WHAT RESPONSE YOU GET BELOW.

The government seems to have forgotten that they work for US. We the people have the power to make a change, if enough of us get involved. Please PM me if you can help with this movement in any way. Thanks for taking the time to make a quick phone call to your state senator.