State Rep. Ritter Votes to 'Stop the Spikes'

State Representative Kevin Ritter (R-Marietta) yesterday voted in support of an initiative that continues the Ohio House Majority Caucus's leadership on delivering property tax relief to Ohioans for billions in savings.

STOP THE SPIKES - House Bill 186: 20-Mill Floor Inflation Cap

House Bill 186 saves Ohio property owners nearly $1.7 billion over the next three years by establishing a new Inflation Cap Credit that prevents increases in school district property taxes from exceeding the rate of inflation. The initiative also includes an appropriation holding Ohio school districts harmless for actual losses over this appraisal period compared to their current property tax collections, which will help schools that are not up for reappraisal or reevaluation this year offset any actual revenue losses.

This legislation will protect homeowners from surprise hikes in their property tax bills when they live in a district that is on the 20-mill floor.

"This bill provides almost 1.7 billion in property tax relief over the next three years, while protecting our schools from an unexpected reduction in funds," said Ritter. "It is a step in the effort to lower these taxes and help Ohioans."

This act builds on the legislative work already accomplished by the House Republican Caucus through a slate of provisions, including:

PROPERTY TAX PROVISIONS IN FINAL, APPROVED BUDGET PLAN

• Direct Relief to Seniors, Disabled Veterans & Families of First Responders through homestead exemptions and up to 2.5% owner-occupancy tax credits.
• Levy reform to simplify levies, prevent hidden tax hikes, and stop excessive general fund carryovers.
• Preventing Fraud through a new statewide property tax reduction screening system - discouraging abuse and protecting taxpayer dollars.
• Promoting Transparency by updating and reviewing property tax ballot language.
• Enhancing Checks and Balances for Property Tax Rates at the Local Level by requiring reports to the County Budget Commission and requiring local governments to take ownership of unvoted tax increases.

HOUSE BILL 129 (passed the House on 10/8):

• Implements a check on tax hikes by counting emergency, substitute, incremental growth, conversion levies and the property tax portion of combined levies toward the 20-mill floor - closing loopholes & slowing tax spikes.
  Ultimately lifts 237 districts off the 20-mill floor.
  

HOUSE BILL 309 (passed the House on 10/8):

• Slashes unnecessary collections by expanding the County Budget Commission's authority to modify levies and trim unnecessarily high millage rates, shielding Ohioans from overly excessive tax bills.
  

HOUSE BILL 124 (passed the House on 6/4):

• Empowers county auditors to have greater oversight over determining property tax sales information used for determining property valuations.

House Bills 186 will now go to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.