COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Republican-led proposed constitutional amendment would put a cap on the allowed yearly property tax increases. House Joint Resolution 6 puts that cap at 4%.
The resolution was put forth by State Representatives Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Scott Wiggam (R-Wooster). It still needs to pass in the House and Senate and get the Secretary of State’s approval before it would ever make it to the ballot.
The idea of a cap on property taxes is nothing new. It has appeared in the past several legislative sessions but has failed to gain enough traction to pass.
Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano said he has heard a lot from people in Franklin County who are concerned about their property taxes.
“We’re hearing from a lot of folks from the kitchen table looking for a menu of other options. Maybe it’s stabilization residential zones, a deferment program, or it could be that cap circuit breaker model,” he said.
He said there really isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to property tax reform in the state.
“You can look to other jurisdictions and other states where similar policies exist. It’s going to be really important to understand the implications,” said Stinziano. “People hear property taxes, but 90% of those are decided at the ballot box. So, if a party says we need more money, if you cap it, who are you going to take it away from? Seniors? The schools? The libraries?”
Stinziano appeared before the Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform in late May. He said county residents are feeling the squeeze.
Last year’s record 41% increase in property values led to, on average, a 6% increase in property taxes. More than 30,000 homeowners in the county experienced an increase of $1,000 or more on their tax bill.
He said different methods of reforming the state’s property taxes have different effects on different groups of people and what they can afford. He argues the state should give people options to choose how they pay for their property taxes.
The second installment of property taxes in Franklin County is due June 20. The treasurer’s office is seeing the rush of people to cut the check to cover the bill.
James Jenkins, a disabled veteran on a fixed income from Grove City, said it’s getting tough.
“The way inflations is going up, it just narrows everything down until you just live. That’s about it,” Jenkins said. “My actual tax with all of the deductions, and you can read them off, they already give me homestead and everything else and it’s still $2,400 for six months.”
He said he would support some kind of reform that would relieve some of the pressure on his budget.
Franklin County Treasurer Cheryl Brooks Sullivan said her office watches all of the proposals from the state to change how property taxes are done. She said she wants to see something happen.
If property taxes change, it is up to her office to see how that is executed. She said out of all the proposals that have gone through the Statehouse, the proposal for a percentage cap looks the best. However, she’s unsure about it being a constitutional amendment.
“I think it’s clean. I think it’s fair. People’s livelihoods don’t change 20, 30, 40% annually. They just don’t. The fact that real estate does, it’s just one piece of an investment puzzle that’s there to create equity. To be charged on equity is a bit unrealistic for many people,” said Brooks Sullivan.
10TV left a message with Rep. Beth Lear’s office for comment but did not hear back.