Last week, state Senator Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo) criticized the Ohio Senate’s passage of five bills presented as solutions to Ohio’s property tax challenges, arguing they represent a patchwork approach that fails to provide a comprehensive or sustainable fix.
“These bills have the potential to make profound changes to our property tax system, yet we are rushing them through without a full understanding of their potential consequences,” said Hicks-Hudson. “For example, H.B. 186 provides a tax credit based on recent, significant property value increases without giving county treasurers the necessary time to update their systems. This sets up our local governments and taxpayers for unnecessary confusion.”
While some provisions, such as increasing property tax rollbacks for owner-occupied homes, may offer short-term positive impacts, the overall package is fraught with potential for harm and confusion. Senator Hicks-Hudson also noted that the legislature disregarded proven, thoughtful solutions recommended by Governor DeWine’s own property tax working group, such as expanding the homestead exemption and implementing a property tax circuit breaker.
“Instead of increasing the state’s financial commitment to fully implement the Fair School Funding Plan, we have once again offered a band-aid solution that does not address the long-term crisis facing homeowners. There is still needed and thoughtful work to be done to achieve true property tax reform, and these bills do not accomplish that goal.”