Override the Veto and Deliver the Property Tax Relief Ohioans Deserve
By Scott R. Williams, CEO OHIO REALTORS®
Ohio’s property owners, and those who aspire to be, face an ever-growing number of barriers to homeownership. Rapidly increasing property taxes are not only preventing many from achieving the American Dream but also taxing current homeowners out of the homes they’ve worked hard to keep. Ohio REALTORS®, representing more than 36,000 members, proudly serve as the voice for property owners across our great state. We work tirelessly to ensure that homeownership remains attainable and accessible for all, and we strive to make Ohio a great place to open a business, build a life, and put down roots.
This year we formed, along with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Ohio Taxpayer Protection Coalition focused on making fair changes to the property tax system. The budget, as passed by the General Assembly, included many of the Coalition’s suggested proposals and made impactful changes that would slow the rate of unvoted tax growth. These provisions would have brought back into play existing constitutional protections for businesses and homeowners alike in a time of rising valuations and local levy growth. Sadly, Governor DeWine chose to line-item veto these reforms.
We firmly believe the Ohio Legislature has an opportunity—and a responsibility—to override those vetoes.
We all hear the stories. Americans are moving from high tax states to come to places like Ohio, seeking lower taxes, job opportunities and a quality of life that is only found here. By not adopting these reforms, Ohio jeopardizes this story of regrowth. A state that has lost residents for too long is now turning that around, but if we continue to allow the uncontrolled escalation of property taxes, we risk becoming a place where people flee instead. We still have time to act, to stem the rising tide of taxation, protect our property owners, and still allow for a stable and predictable revenue stream for schools and local governments.
The proposals that Governor DeWine vetoed are not radical reforms. By counting all levies toward the 20-mill floor, the rate of inflationary increases will be slowed when valuations rise dramatically. Another provision empowers each local county budget commission to adjust voted tax rates to allow for changing fiscal conditions and allow them to manage the tax burden how they see best. These provisions respect local control, the will of voters, and ensure adequate and essential funding will be available and stable for all entities. More importantly, taxpayers will be protected from unvoted tax increases, which will help to make homeownership more affordable and keep Ohio competitive.
We commend the Ohio General Assembly’s actions; they listened to taxpayers and acted. Now, we ask them to go back to work, override the governor’s veto, and put guardrails around a property tax system that risks becoming a serious detriment to Ohio’s future.
On behalf of our 36,000 members, current Ohio homeowners and Ohio’s future homeowners, we urge the legislature to stand firm and deliver the relief Ohioans have requested.
