PARMA, Ohio — It was standing-room only at the Tri-C Western Campus Theatre in Parma Wednesday evening as Cuyahoga County residents vented their frustrations and anger by the dozens to county leaders about their property taxes going up.
"I'm going to have to get (more) jobs to pay for these taxes here," one person stated during the question-and-answer portion of the meeting.
"I feel totally defeated,” another Parma resident said.
The frustration comes after Cuyahoga County performed a property reappraisal, as 3News previously reported. Under state law, reappraisals are required every six years.
Across Cuyahoga County, property values are increasing by an average of 32%. For some residents in attendance at Wednesday's meeting, they say it's not fair because their homes aren't worth what they were recently appraised for.
"My house is 140 years old in Brook Park, and overnight it doubles?" Carl Ferrara told us as he tried to make sense of his home's new value. "I need a lot of work done to my house."
During the presentation, County Fiscal Officer Michael Chambers said there are relief options for residents. There's a "homestead exemption," which reduces the property tax burden for people who bring in $38,600 or less.
Chambers added residents can also file an informal review process to challenge their new home values by Aug. 30 by submitting certified estimates from a contractor along with photos. Residents can also file for a formal tax review starting Jan. 1 through March 31, 2025.
Additionally, seniors older than 70 with household incomes less than $70,000 may eventually be able to freeze their property taxes at the current level, as long as they've owned their homes for 10 years or more under a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution which yet to be approved.
Still, some homeowners say it shouldn't be their responsibility for something they didn't ask for.
"It's kind of ridiculous," Ferrara. "You probably have to spend at least, probably, $1,000 at $1,500 for a contractor to come in to do the paperwork."
Meanwhile, seniors on fixed incomes say they just can't afford the increase.
"They're pricing seniors right out of the house,” says Carole Wooten. "My house went up $100 a month. The taxes increased $100 a month. I can't do that."
Wooten says she plans to join other upset residents who are planning to take legal action.
"There was a man in the parking lot handing out a flyer," she noted. "We're getting together and we're going to file a class action suit, and we're going to Columbus and we're going to fight them."
The next community meeting is set for Thursday night at Urban Community School in Cleveland.