Homeowners in Ohio are fighting against rising property taxes by planning to ask county authorities to push back the due date for the first half of their payments.
The property taxes of several homeowners across Ohio have risen dramatically in the past few months following a state-mandated government property assessment that typically takes place every six years.
A UChicago Harris/AP-NORC poll this month found that around two-thirds of Americans surveyed believe that their property tax rate is too high. The poll was conducted in 2023, between December 14 and 18, with 1,024 participants across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The survey found 69 percent of adults in the U.S. believe their property tax rates were "unfair", with 27 percent saying they were "about right", and 3 percent claiming they are taxed too little.
In November, appraisers in Ashland, Ashtabula, Geauga, Richland, Summit and Wayne counties in Ohio said they were seeing an average of more than 30 percent increases in residential property values after the reappraisals, according to WEWS television station in Cleveland.
Homeowners in Hamilton County, Ohio, reported that their property taxes had more than doubled in the last six months, as reported by WXIX TV station in Cincinnati; some recently said they saw a nearly 500 percent increase. Many told the local broadcaster that they feared losing their homes as they are unable to make the due payments by February 5. Some of these homeowners are now planning to ask Hamilton County authorities to postpone the deadline to a later date.
Cincinnati-based WKRC station reported on Monday that county resident Sarah Wolf has created a Facebook page for neighbors to band together and agree to attend the Hamilton County Commissioners meeting on Thursday, February 1. There, they plan to ask authorities for a deadline delay and for the launch of an investigation into the property value reassessment process.
The Facebook page, called "Hamilton County Ohio Homeowners," counts a total of 421 members who describe themselves as residents "experiencing outrage and despair by the new property tax increases."
A description of the group reads: "In an already difficult economy, seniors, the working class, and all homeowners just trying to provide for their families and feel safe and secure in their own homes, are suddenly slapped with thousands of dollars in unexpected taxes by our County." The page encourages struggling homeowners to join the group and take action together.
Newsweek messaged the creator of the page, Sarah Wolf, for comment by a Facebook message on Tuesday morning.
Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece has been on the side of homeowners, saying that the formula mandated by the state is flawed and "some people are paying more on their property taxes than they are on their actual mortgage." Reece is now working on offering temporary relief for county residents to address the property tax hike and the high cost of mortgage.
Newsweek contacted Reece for comment by email on Tuesday morning.
Ohio lawmakers are also looking to longer-term solutions on the state level with House Bill 187, which would change the way home property taxes are calculated.
The bill, which has already passed in the Ohio State House, also stops the state's Department of Taxation from asking counties to hike their property tax value if they come in too low. If it passes the state Senate, HB 187 will be valid for three years.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Giulia Carbonaro is a Newsweek Reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on U.S. and European politics, global affairs ... Read more
