An Ohio grassroots group is looking to end property taxes in Ohio and has until July 1 to gather signatures to place a petition on the ballot in November. They are looking for citizens to assist in that gathering.
Earlier this year, many residents were shocked when they received their 2024 Cuyahoga County Real Estate Tax bills, and they saw the new totals due. The increases, some of which were more than 30%, were part of the county’s sexennial reappraisal. The outcry to Ohio legislators was noticed and several bills were discussed, but nothing substantial has been adopted that would help already-strapped taxpayers.
According to the Ohio Department of Taxation, “the real property tax is Ohio’s oldest tax. It has been an ad valorem tax – meaning, based on value – since 1825.” That leads to the practice of citizen homeowners continually being taxed on unrealized gains. The homeowner does not realize a gain on the house that was previously purchased until they actually sell the house. The government, however, takes a cut of a proposed gain continually from the time the homeowner purchases the home.
Originally, the increases spurred on a grassroots effort to reform the existing property tax, forming a group called the Citizens for Property Tax Reform. They originally aimed to rally residents to address Ohio lawmakers in order to facilitate changes. When their pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears, they changed course and now have stepped up and formulated an initiative petition that would place the decision not in the hands of lawmakers, but in the hands of citizens. The following is the what they would like to place on the November ballot:
“Be it Resolved by the People of the State of Ohio that the Constitution of Ohio is hereby amended to add Section 14 to Article XII to read as follows:
Section 14. Abolishment of Taxes on Real Property.
(A) No real property shall be taxed, and no law shall impose any taxes on real property.
(B) No other provision of the Constitution shall impose any taxes on real property.
(C) As used in this Section, “real property” includes land itself, all growing crops therein, and all buildings. structures. and improvements permanently attached to the land.
This Amendment shall take effect on the first day of the year after it passes.”
The first step of the process to place the petition on the ballot has been achieved.
The petition was approved by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and has been submitted to Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose’s office. “Having carefully examined this submission, I conclude that the title and summary are fair and truthful statements of the proposed constitutional amendment,” said a response letter sent to the petitioners,” according to Yost. “As the next step in the process, the Ohio Ballot Board must determine whether the proposal contains a single constitutional amendment or multiple constitutional amendments. If the board certifies the proposal, the petitioners must then collect signatures from registered voters equal to at least 10% of the vote cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. Those signatures must come from voters in at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties, and for each of those counties the number must equal at least 5% of the vote cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. If sufficient signatures are verified by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office at least 65 days before the election, the full text of the proposed amendment will be placed on the ballot in the next regular or general election that occurs subsequent to 125 days after the filing of such petition.”
“If we get enough citizens together, we can make a difference,” stated Beth Blackmarr, Media Relations Representative for the group. “There is power in numbers and there is a way to flex our muscle.” The group needs 500,000 signatures in at least 44 counties in Ohio in order to place the measure on the ballot in November. Right now, they need citizens to gather the necessary signatures. Those wishing to participate in collecting signatures should register at the group’s website: reformpropertytax.com
Blackmarr encourages residents to contact their state representatives. “Call your representatives! Let them know what you think!” The information is as follows for North Royalton residents:
Ohio House Representative for North Royalton District 17
Mike D. Dovilla
Phone: (614) 466-4895
You can message Dovilla through the Ohio House website, www.ohiohouse.gov/michael-d-dovilla and click on Contact Ohio Senator for North Royalton District 24
Thomas F. Patton
Phone: (614) 466-8056
You can message Patton through the Ohio Senate website, ohiosenate.gov/thomas-f-patton and click on Contact

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer