United for Reform: The Ohio Taxpayer Protection Coalition
By Anastasia Kotkovskaya, Manager, Advocacy and Research
If you recently received an email or text from us regarding our advocacy on property taxes, this update outlines our efforts and explains why they are critical for Ohio homeowners.
For many Ohio homeowners, property taxes are climbing faster than they can keep up. Rising home values are translating to higher tax bills, forcing some families – especially senior citizens and those on fixed incomes – to consider leaving the homes they have been living in for decades. Ohio’s tax structure needs reform, and the challenges facing property owners have made it impossible to ignore.
Because of this, Ohio REALTORS® has been on the front lines of property tax reform, fighting for meaningful, long-overdue changes that protect homeowners and restore fairness to the system. We’ve joined forces with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the County Auditors Association of Ohio, and former Ohio Tax Commissioner Tom Zaino to create the Ohio Taxpayer Protection Coalition.
The Coalition is united behind three core goals:
- Stopping automatic property tax hikes that kick in when property values increase
- Simplifying confusing tax ballot language around replacement vs. renewal levies
- Closing loopholes that let school districts collect more in taxes without voter approval
Interested in learning more about this joint effort? Visit the Ohio Taxpayer Protection Coalition website.
Property Tax Reform in Ohio’s Operating Budget
We’ve been strongly advocating for the inclusion of key reforms in the state operating budget (HB 96), which is currently pending in the Ohio Senate. The House version of the bill includes a provision that would require school districts with carryover balances exceeding 30% of their operating budgets to reduce property tax rates for the following year. As the budget advances through the legislative process, Ohio REALTORS® will continue to stay engaged in property tax discussions and work with lawmakers to ensure that any final changes will be implemented effectively and provide meaningful protections for homeowners.
Spotlight on Standalone Legislation
In addition to our work on the budget, we’ve testified in support of several important bills that would provide some relief on property tax bills:
- House Bill 28: Ends the use of confusing replacement levies and simplifies the way that property tax issues appear on the ballot
- House Bill 186: Caps the tax revenue that school districts to inflation, ensuring that any increases beyond that go to the ballot
- House Bill 129 & Senate Bill 66: Includes all levies in the calculation of the 20-mill floor, ensuring that property tax reduction factors are applied to protect against unrestrained growth of property taxes as values rise
These bills would give property owners a voice, put a stop to hidden tax increases, and bring overdue transparency to how levies work and what they cost homeowners.
What’s Next
The operating budget must be passed and signed by the Governor by June 30th, 2025. In the meantime, we will continue advocating to protect key reforms that deliver real relief for Ohio property owners.
Learn more about our efforts below:
Ohio REALTORS Testifies in Senate on State Operating Budget: Key Tax and Housing Issues in Focus
State Operating Budget Moves to Senate with Housing Provisions in Play
Legislation to Clarify Property Tax Levies Passes House
Ohio REALTORS Supports Property Tax Reform Legislation to Reign in Unvoted Tax Increases
Ohio REALTORS Supports HB 129 Property Tax Fix
Ohio REALTORS Supports Property Tax Reform Legislation to Protect Homeowners
