CLEVELAND — After property reappraisals were sent to homeowners across the state, some Ohioans are voicing concern over the impacts to their property taxes.
State law requires Ohio counties to reappraise property values every six years. The counties are on a rotation, and in 2024, 18 counties -- including Cuyahoga -- were on the docket.
Property values directly determine property taxes, and county officials say only the state legislature can fundamentally change how that system works.
Republican State Rep. Adam Bird sponsored a bill to change the way properties are evaluated, requiring property values to be calculated using a three-year average.
The bill passed through the House and then the Senate, but now Bird doesn't want it to go to Governor Mike DeWine's desk.
“When it went to the Senate, they changed it," said Bird. "For some reason, they didn't like it, and they wanted to make it a homestead exemption increase. So, you know, I philosophically believe that we need to treat all Ohioans the same, and what we sent over in the original bill of 187 was a bill that treated all Ohioans the same, and what the Senate came back with picked winners and losers, and we're not going to agree to that."
Democratic State Rep. Daniel Troy is part of the Ohio General Assembly's Joint Property Tax Committee. He's hoping the committee can gather and brainstorm some legislative solutions this summer that can be quickly acted on when all lawmakers reconvene in November.
"There are too many band-aids thrown on the property tax system over a period of time. Band-aid here, band-aid here," said Troy. "What we need is a comprehensive, physical evaluation of the entire property tax system and to make some steps, because there is linkage in every step."
Troy is the sponsor of a bill that would roll out more homestead exemptions, which would in turn help seniors on fixed incomes. However, that bill is in the early stages of the House.
Both lawmakers agree that property taxes are a big issue straining on Ohioans, and they both say they're frustrated that the Ohio General Assembly has not passed through legislation to address the problem.
The reappraisals will determine the property taxes for 2024, and residents will have to pay then in early 2025.