Propety Tax Increases Causing Home Owners To Loose Or Sell Homes

WARREN COUNTY, OH -- Through history taxes have always been a hot topic, and even today, in 21st Century, taxes are still a hot topic, especially, here in Ohio. As the numbers increase of homeowners loosing their homes or being forced to move from their homes due to increases in property taxes, residents in Ohio, and here in Warren County, are saying enough is enough.

“It’s not right that people are loosing their homes that they own because they can’t afford the property taxes that keep increasing and are being mandated on us,” said Beth Blackmarr of CitizensforPropertyTaxReform.org.

Ohio ranks the seventh most expensive state in the US in terms of property tax with the average homeowner in Ohio paying $3,800 a year in property taxes, noted Jasson Farrier of the Housing Nerd podcast. (Episode linked below.) But this may all change, if the cause lead by Blackmarr and the Citizens for Property Tax Reform are able to gt enough signature to change the Ohio Constitution to eliminate property taxes.

“It would be an amendment that would eliminate property tax in Ohio,” Blackmarr said, who explained how she got involved in the movement after getting her county's house and property re-evaluation notice for tax purposes last year. 

"My mortgage bill was going to increase by $120 a month. I’m on a fixed income. I can’t afford that," Blackmarr said, explaining that her  2-bedroom, 1- bath home built in 1911, which she had bought several years ago for $76,000, was now being appraised for over $290,000.

After speaking to her to city council members, whose suggestion was for her to move if she couldn't afford the taxes, Blackmarr decided she needed to get involved and do something.

"There is power in numbers," she said explaining how she got involved in the movement. She found a group called SOS ... Safe Our Seniors on a social media site. It was seniors who were facing the same problem she was. Through this group, which has now rebranded itself as citizens to ReformPropertyTax.com, they are backing the Committee to Eliminate Ohio Property Tax, who is the group that has worked to get the ballot together to eliminate property tax in Ohio.

The committee is actively collecting signatures to meet the requirements for placing the amendment on the ballot. They need to gather signatures from at least 5% of voters in 44 counties, as well as a total number of signatures equivalent to 10% of the last gubernatorial election's turnout. 

"We need the signatures so we can get it the change on the ballot for the voters to decided," Blackmarr explained, stressing...  "This is NOT a republican or a democratic issue. It is an Ohio issue. Anybody who owns property, or even rents... these continued increases in property taxes affects us all." 

Property taxes are not only displacing seniors, it is  stopping young families from being able to afford property and renter rates to increase. Property owners of the rentals need to raise the rates to meet the demand of the higher taxes. 

If interested in signing a petition so that the voters of Ohio can decide for themselves if they want  the amendment added in the Ohio Constitution to eliminate property taxes, the Warren County GOP will have petitions available to sign at its annual picnic at Armco Park this Sunday June 29 from 3:30 pm to 7 pm in shelter 27, explained Joy Broedling of Warren County Republican Party Central Committee.

Broedling added that there will also be the opportunity for Warren County residents to sign a petition to put a two term limit for school board members in school districts in Warren County. Broedling explained the reason for the limited term petition: 

• People get in these positions and never leave. 
• They gain too much power with statistics showing it is almost impossible for a new name to beat an incumbent.

"There needs to be term limits," she said.

The Ohio Constitutional amendment change is for all of Ohio. The two term limit for school board members is only for Warren County, Ohio.  The GOP office located at 101 Dave Street in Lebanon, OH will also be open from 9 am to noon on July 12 to take signatures.

"We are also hoping to have people at the Warren County Fair to collect signatures for both petitions,"  Broedling added. The fair runs from July 14 through the 19 at the Warren County Fair grounds.

To sign the petition to eliminate property taxes in Ohio, you must do it in person.
Use the link below to find a location near you where you can sign.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1z9AZ7ftGitvCezNt156e-r_JbgWtI0t4?usp=drive_link

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