by JD Davidson
The Ohio House could pass a bill this week that would force clear language on ballots about potential property tax increases and stop school districts from using individuals to challenge tax decisions.
House Bill 344 could be on the House agenda during its Wednesday session after passing the chamber’s Ways and Means Committee on a 10-6 party-line Republican majority vote.
Sponsors say voters can sometimes be confused when a school district charges a fee for a up-to-date, replacement or extended levy on the ballot. Bill would require indicating the language of the ballot find out what has been paid and what will be paid if the levy is passed.
“Seemingly, with every election, different property tax levies are placed on the ballot,” Reps. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, and Thomas Hall, R-Madison Township, told the committee. “‘New levy’ and ‘increase’ are basic to understand, but many voters treat ‘renewal’ and ‘replacement’ as synonyms, even though they function very differently because replacement can escalate the amount requested and the taxpayer’s final bill. “Voters are also often unaware that there is a huge difference between the effective tax rates they pay under the existing levy and the official ‘chosen’ amount they would pay under the new levy.”
The bill also aims to restore – according to its sponsors – the provisions of the regulations adopted in 2022, which were intended to prevent school districts from questioning valuations.
Since the law went into effect in July 2022, districts have turned to their treasurer or an attorney from the district’s law firm to file complaints, according to Mathews and Hall. The district would then file a cross-complaint to allow it to join as a third party.
“This straw man strategy has been used in hundreds of cases and has created an environment of confusion for property owners, investors and auditors,” the two sponsors said.
The bill would not allow a single person to act as an agent for a governmental entity that could benefit from an assessment escalate.
Opponents, however, say the legislation would prevent taxing entities from imposing in-lieu fees for voter approval and tighten property tax complaint rules for gigantic, undervalued properties.
They argue that the bill would shift the tax burden from gigantic businesses to individual taxpayers.
“At a time of historic property tax increases, I am amazed that my Republican colleagues voted to shift more of the tax burden to Ohio’s most vulnerable residents by essentially raising taxes on them and then mysteriously calling it a tax break,” the Republican said. Daniel Troy, D-Willowick. “Our tax system should be fair and uniform, where no one is overburdened because others are underburdened. Ohioans are crying out for real, meaningful property tax relief, and House Bill 344 does absolutely nothing to assist them.
During committee hearings, the bill was opposed by several government tax agencies, but was supported by business groups.
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JD Davidson is regional editor at Central Square.
Photo “Suburban House” by Pixabay.
