Reps. D. Thomas, Glassburn Offer Sponsor Testimony on Bipartisan Property Tax Reform Bill

State Representatives David Thomas (R-Jefferson) and Chris Glassburn (D-North Olmsted) offered sponsor testimony before the Ohio Ways and Means Committee in support of House Bill 608, bipartisan legislation to strengthen taxpayer protections and modernize the administration of Ohio's property tax system.

"These policies help relieve frustrations from our taxpayers and are another step to make the system better," said Rep. Thomas.

Key provisions of H.B. 608 include:

• Payment Window Guarantee: Ensures at least 30 days between the mailing of a property tax bill and the payment deadline;
• Mandatory Payment Plans: Requires counties to offer payment plans to assist homeowners;
• Assessment Fund Refunds: Allows excess Real Estate Assessment Fund dollars to be returned directly to owner-occupied households;
• Development Stability: Extends the period a property's value can remain fixed from 8 to 10 years for homesites under development but not yet sold;
• Valuation Notifications: Mandates that property owners receive mailed notice of any changes made to their property valuation;
• Transparent Ballot Language: Permits "if this…then that…" conditional statements on levy ballots to provide voters with a clearer understanding of the relationship between tax increases and decreases;

"At its core, property taxes are an affordability issue. It is a question of whether our seniors and those on a fixed income can afford to stay in the homes they spent a lifetime building. It is a question of whether we can afford to invest in the communities we call home," said Rep. Glassburn. "This bill makes several small, but not insignificant changes to our property tax system aimed at improving transparency and trust among Ohio taxpayers."

H.B. 608 is intended to be a catch-all for minor fixes to inconsistencies and gaps in the property tax system, improving transparency, customer service, and the use of taxpayer dollars. Several of these provisions are already being implemented by various local governments across Ohio. This bill is designed to establish uniformity in the tax system by enacting policies and ideas that have already proven effective and can be implemented locally. The bill sponsors are open to incorporating additional amendments into H.B. 608 during the committee process that align with this goal.

House Bill 608 now awaits proponent testimony in the House Ways and Means Committee.