Will County Budget Commissions Be Allowed to Lower Property Taxes?
Vol. III, No. 134 - House Bill 309 passes the House of Representatives and moves to the State Senate
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This week, law makers in the Ohio House of Representatives took a step toward protecting homeowners from surprise property tax increases with the recent passage of House Bill 309. The bill, a version of which was vetoed by Governor DeWine in the state budget, directly responds to growing complaints from residents who have seen their tax bills rise sharply in recent years, mostly because of surging property values. House Bill 309 now heads to the state Senate, with the goal of putting more power in the hands of county budget commissions to keep tax collections fair.
The reason for this change is simple: many Ohioans feel their property taxes are increasing too much, too quickly. When home values rise, the amount a local government collects can sometimes jump far beyond what voters originally approved. House Bill 309 would stop this from happening by letting the county budget commission lower tax rates before bills go out. When it appears that a local government could collect more in property taxes than it actually needs, the commission can take action to prevent this. The hope is that this tool will bring relief to homeowners who have been hit by unexpected tax hikes, giving them more predictability and peace of mind. Furthermore, the bill grants these new powers to the county budget commissions, which operate on the local level, rather than having a state level bureaucracy makes these decisions.
The county budget commission, which is a little known part of county government, plays an important role in this process. In every Ohio county, the commission is made up of three main officials. The county auditor, the county treasurer, and the county prosecutor work together on the commission. All of them are elected by voters, and the auditor serves as the group’s secretary. Occasionally, residents can decide to add two citizen members to the commission, though this is quite rare in practice. The officials meet throughout the year, usually at the county auditor’s office, to review how property tax money is being collected and shared among local schools, cities, and villages.
The job of the commission is more than just checking numbers. They review every tax levy to be sure it follows the law, and they look closely at what each local agency needs to run its programs. If a city, school district or township has requested more tax money than necessary, the commission can adjust the numbers so that taxpayers aren’t footing the bill for more than what was promised. They also officially certify the money that each taxing authority will receive, which helps local officials plan their budgets and spending for the coming year.
House Bill 309 aims to give the budget commission even stronger authority. In the past, there have been questions about whether these officials could reduce voter-approved tax rates when it looked like a windfall was coming in. This bill removes any doubt, stating in clear terms that the commission can and should act to lower rates if a taxing authority would otherwise collect more money than is necessary. This change is meant to increase transparency too, making sure homeowners can see for themselves how tax rates are adjusted and why decisions are made.
Some objections have come from groups representing local governments and schools who fear the changes may create challenges for districts that stretch across county lines or rely on certain types of tax levies. Lawmakers say that the bill clarifies roles and encourages local officials to keep the best interests of taxpayers in mind.
If the bill is adopted by the State Senate and approved by the Governor, Ohio could see new limits on property tax increases as soon as next year as county budget commissions exercise these new authorities. If all goes as planned, taxpayers will start to see these protections and a steadier, more understandable tax system. For many families, that means less worry about being surprised by their property tax bills, and a greater sense of trust in how local money is handled.
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