Why Ohio homeowners are questioning property taxes

For far too many Ohio homeowners, property tax season no longer feels like a routine civic obligation but rather a financial squeeze tightening year after year.

This frustration is grounded in real numbers that should be concerning. According to the Tax Foundation, Ohio’s effective property tax rate, the amount paid annually as a percentage of owner-occupied housing value, stands at 1.31%, placing the Buckeye state among the highest property tax rates in the country. Ohio ranks eighth nationally in property tax burden.

An example is on a $300,000 home that rate translates into nearly $4,000 a year in property taxes before any levies. For many families, especially those on fixed incomes or modest wages, that’s a perennial strain on household budgets.

In Ohio, counties reappraise property values every three years, which can raise taxable values. In Southwest Ohio’s 2023 update cycle, residential values increased about 37% in Butler County, 31.9% in Clark County, 30% in Greene County, 28.8% in Miami County, 34% in Montgomery County and 27% in Warren County.

This dynamic means homeowners can see their property tax bills rise even if their income doesn’t. While the Ohio General Assembly has passed laws capping property tax growth to inflation following reappraisals, no legislation has been enacted that completely prevents tax bills from increasing when property values rise.

This article was first published by the Dayton Daily News. Go here to read the full column.