5-02-2024 8:53pm

House Committee Passes Legislation to Bring Transparency to Tax Levies and Prevent Unfair Property Value Challenges

Beth Callahan Editor

Adam Mathews represents the 56th Ohio House District, which encompasses a southwestern portion and central Warren County including Lebanon, South Lebanon, and Mason.

LEBANON, OH – State Reps. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) along with co-sponsor Thomas Hall (R-Madison Twp.) announced this week that The House Ways and Means Committee passed House Bill 344, legislation to reform Ohio’s property tax system.

House Bill 344 will promote transparency by preventing local governments from proposing replacement property tax levies, which frequently result in unexpected property tax
increases. The bill will preserve the ability to either renew existing levies or propose increases or new levies directly, thereby ensuring that voters have full knowledge of the proposals and their effects.

“Ohioans are rightly worried about their property taxes, and we all must work together to address the causes of these tax increases,” Mathews said. “This bill puts the power over property taxes where it belongs: with the voter and the homeowner.”

This bill also prohibits local governments from filing certain property valuation complaints that would result in property tax increases.

Current law sets restrictions on the ability of local governments to attempt to raise property values through local boards of revision, though legal loopholes have allowed them to do so without abiding by these restrictions.
This bill will protect homeowners and lessen tax increases by ensuring that local governments abide by the restrictions set in place to safeguard taxpayers and ensure transparency throughout the process.

“Ohioans are suffering as a result of property tax increases throughout many Ohio counties,” Hall said. “This bill is a step in
the right direction and will eliminate confusion related to our property tax system
when voters are considering levies at the ballot box.” 

House Bill 344 now heads to the House floor for a vote.