Property taxes continue to be focus in Ohio legislature

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(The Center Square) – The ongoing movement against property taxes in Ohio received yet another push recently.

Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, introduced the “Taxpayer Freedom Trilogy,” a combination of three bills that address what he calls a property tax crisis in the state.

“Property tax reform is the number one issue in Ohio right now,” Click said. “Sudden spikes in property taxes have served as a pressure test, revealing weakness in accountability regarding property taxes. This package of three bills is designed to restore transparency, accountability, and fairness to Ohio’s property tax system.”

Click said the first of the three bills ends continuous levies, which result in people today paying for levies passed by their parents and grandparents.

The second bill would allow taxpayers to challenge the millage rate counties can approve without a vote, also known as inside millage.

Counties can approve 10 mills on their own, but the legislation would allow someone to challenge that number if they believe it’s too high and voice a ballot question.

“Inside Millage is one of the large aspects to the property tax bill which voters never had a say over and is the piece of the bill which goes up in cost as property values go up,” said Rep. David Thomas, R-Jefferson. “Giving voters the say over this unvoted increase part of their tax bill empowers the taxpayers.” 

The third bill changes the votes needed to pass property tax measures.

Anything less than 1 mill would still require a simple majority, however requests between 1 and 1.9 mills would need 60% approval for passage.

Ballot questions asking for a 2 mills or more increase would need 66% approval.

The new bills come as Gov. Mike DeWine’s property tax working group is expected to deliver concrete proposals by the end of the month.

Also, a grassroots group continues to gather signatures to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would allow voters to end property taxes completely across the state.

Ohio lawmakers returned to work this week after the summer break, and none of Click’s bills have received a hearing yet.