Ohio Lawmakers Tackle Property Tax Relief Amid Growing Resident Concerns

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lawmakers in Ohio are prioritizing property tax relief as frustration grows among residents, particularly seniors and fixed-income homeowners, who are struggling with rising property taxes.

Janice Beaty, an 86-year-old central Ohio homeowner, expressed her concerns about the increasing burden of property taxes. “I just wanted to stay in my house in a quiet way,” Beaty said, adding that her taxes have risen significantly in recent years. “I managed to pay the taxes, but it’s going to come up again,” she noted, highlighting the stress of balancing taxes with other living expenses on a fixed income.

Ohio House Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) acknowledged the complexity of the issue. “We’ve got kind of a big a la carte menu on property taxes,” Stewart said. While Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed budget does not currently include property tax relief, Stewart indicated that lawmakers are exploring options, stating, “There is an appetite to look at property taxes.”n

Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) proposed a different approach, suggesting that property tax relief should be addressed through a series of targeted bills rather than a single comprehensive measure. “This problem with property taxes has been created over decades,” Huffman said. “We are going to peel the onion a little bit at a time, one issue at a time.”n

The Ohio House Finance Committee is expected to introduce several property tax-related bills in the coming weeks, focusing on specific areas of reform. Lawmakers aim to balance the need for relief with the state’s financial constraints, as many proposed solutions carry significant costs.