Political group believes improving local government is key to tax breaks

(The Center Square) – One of the best ways to ease the burden on Ohio property taxpayers is to reduce the number of local taxing agencies, an Ohio political group told members of the Legislature.

Greg Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, told the Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform that there is an “oversupply of local governments” in the state, making Ohio the 12th highest local tax burden as a percentage of income in the nation. .

“Local officials are friends, neighbors and respected members of the community, which makes them responsive to voters in ways that state and federal officials are not; However, unless the state begins to unravel the Gordian knot of Ohio’s local government structure, the commission’s recommendations and General Assembly bills will fail to solve a long-standing problem,” Lawson said.

The state includes 924 towns and villages, 1,308 municipalities, over 600 school districts and 88 counties. Anyone can collect property tax.

Lawson said technology could improve local services, saving taxpayers money. He offered three suggestions, including the adoption of the current law, which would enable easier settlement of weaker villages.

He also said county commissions should approve levies before they can be placed on the ballot and property tax breaks should be limited to developers and interest groups.

He also reiterated previous recommendations such as:

• No more unfunded mandates for local governments.

• Spending state resources on specific, critical needs, such as public safety and basic infrastructure.

• Share government revenues with local communities in urgent need.

• Encouraging local governments to share or consolidate local resources.

• Greater spending transparency to improve local accountability.

“Overcoming 200 years of inertia to untangle the tangled knot of Ohio’s local government structure will not be easy,” Lawsons said. “But it has to be done. Ohio property owners deserve a more efficient, effective and affordable system.”

The committee hearing was part of a two-year effort by the Legislature to examine statewide property taxes.

Bills have been introduced to clarify voting language, create a property tax exemption and limit local governments from collecting fees on ballots.

None passed both the House and Senate.