Latest news with #BillRoemer
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio GOP property tax bill would provide $3.5 billion in relief, but at the expense of schools
File photo of homes in Ohio by WEWS. Ohio Republican lawmakers are proposing massive property tax reform, saying their plan could provide billions in direct relief to homeowners. Local governments and schools say it would come at their expense. We've been talking to homeowners like Debra Weygandt for years. She told us how her property values increased by more than 30% in the most recent reappraisals. 'It's the first time I've ever seen this big jump like this,' Debra Weygandt in Akron's Highland Square told News 5 in 2024. Homeowners in different areas across the state are seeing similar hikes. Like Ed Livernois, who was shocked when we spoke to him about his increase last summer. 'I just got a heart attack,' Livernois said. But state lawmakers say they have a solution. '$3.5 billion dollars of direct property tax relief to every property owner across the state of Ohio,' said state Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson). Thomas, with the support of state Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) introduced H.B. 335, a massive property tax relief bill. Among many provisions, the bill limits how much money school districts can get from rising home values — without going to the ballot. 'Eliminating inside millage means that when we see valuation increases, our property owners will not see their tax bills going up near what they've seen over the last five years,' Thomas said. Parma City Schools Superintendent Charles Smialek said that the bill would take away $1.5 billion from schools — with no replacement funding mechanism. 'How they anticipate we're going to continue to provide any type of services with $1.5 billion less than we collect right now is just unfathomable to me,' Smialek said. Lawmakers say that schools can go back to the voters for help. But Parma has already been struggling. It has had seven failed levies since 2018. 'We've been able to continue to provide a great education for students despite the fact that we haven't had new money since 2011, but we've reached a point where we can't continue to do that,' Smialek said. 'We will have to make very difficult decisions, and it's bad for kids.' Schools are also facing other funding challenges. State lawmakers have passed legislation slashing their expected budget by hundreds of millions. Schools will need to cut staff, classes and extracurricular activities, the superintendent said. Roemer said that there are other ways schools can save money. 'We want to use this bill as one facet of having those conversations, which could be hard conversations, about shared services, consolidation, mergers, so that costs can be reduced,' Roemer said. H.B. 335 is just the latest in property reform legislation. The General Assembly has been considering 19 bills. Because H.B. 335 is brand new, homeowners like Weygandt haven't gotten a chance to weigh in on it at the statehouse. But last year, she talked about her struggles. 'Just with everything going up all the last years, it's really hitting the pocketbook,' she said. A group of homeowners is taking tax relief into their own hands — fighting to get a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would abolish property taxes. This was put forward, in part, to get lawmakers to do something, organizers say. With reporting from News 5's Michelle Jarboe. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mixed feelings on property tax proposal
Ohio House Republicans have unveiled a plan to address concerns over property tax. State representative David Thomas, who represents southern Ashtabula County, has been working with the House Ways and Means Committee on the legislation. Property tax has become a bigger issue for residents through the state as property values rise significantly, and people's incomes do not, Thomas said in a recent press conference, detailing legislation introduced earlier this week. 'Ohio has a crisis,' Thomas said in a press conference. He is new to the State House, but spent six years as Ashtabula County Auditor. Thomas and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Roemer said they are seeking to put multiple tax reduction ideas into one bill. Thomas said it will be the most significant tax changes since 1976. Thomas said property tax has become too dominant in the funding structure for services at the local level, and he hopes to create ways to reduce property taxes by January. The legislation includes the elimination of inside millage, which would cost Ashtabula County $5.7 million per year, and the city of Ashtabula $700,000 per year. Inside millage has been seen as a guaranteed base funding and is not voted on by voters. Thomas said he hopes local governments go to the voters if they need additional funds and reduce the burden on property owners, who have seen up to 30% increased value in their property. The legislation would tweak the Homestead Act to provide more assistance to senior citizens. Another goal of Thomas and other House Republicans is to put teeth in the county budget commission, which would have the power to review the financial need of different government entities. Thomas said the commission has been active in Ashtabula County, but not in many counties across the state. The group, which consists of the county auditor, treasurer and prosecutor would be another tax watchdog. Thomas said the proposed legislation would cut an average of $850 from property tax bills statewide. Ashtabula County Commissioner Casey Kozlowski said he is not in favor of the bill. He said the loss of $5.7 million would be very difficult for the county to deal with. 'I believe this is pushing the burden on local governments,' he said. The legislation came without input from local governments, and no fair solution can come without local interaction, Kozlowski said. 'We are providing a lot of these services on behalf of the state,' he said. He said state-funded mandates have increased without funding required to provide the services. He suggested the state taking over certain aspects of government such as courts — through the Ohio Supreme Court — public defenders and the Board of Elections, might be a way to go. Kozlowski said he believes in property tax reform, but not this particular plan. Ashtabula City Manager Jim Timonere said the proposal is absurd, forcing local governments to bear the brunt of the reductions. He said the city would lose about $700,000 of inside millage. The budget process and property tax reform unfolding at the same time has been a challenge, Timonere said. 'Nobody knows what is coming,' he said. Another interesting part of the state financial picture is a proposed income tax reduction in the Senate budget proposal, which is presently being debated. Thomas said some sort of compromise on the income tax proposal is likely. The deadline for the state budget to be approved is June 30.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio bill consolidates property tax issue into one proposal
(WKBN) – Another bill announced Wednesday by Ohio lawmakers is putting together several other bills into one legislative measure to address rising property taxes in the state. State Representatives Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) and David Thomas (R-Jefferson) announced the Property Tax Relief Now Act (House Bill 335). Roemer and Thomas say the proposed legislation would deliver $3.5 million in property tax relief and overhaul the property tax system in Ohio 'in the most impactful way since 1976.' 'We have been gathering these ideas for years and know the time is now to address this crisis before it gets even worse. We have to respond to the needs of our taxpayers who saw record spikes over the last 5 years and paid more into the property tax system because of high values and local entities accepting the unvoted inside millage. We must return the power to the voters and give oversight to taxpayers,' Thomas said in a news release. Thomas also serves as vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. The Property Tax Relief Now Act would provide the following: Caps on School and JVSD TaxesThe bill works to address spikes in unvoted property taxes by creating a new tax credit to limit the growth in revenue school districts can receive from the 20-mill floor to the rate of inflation. For further explanation, if a house's property value goes up, and a school district is at the 20-mill floor, there will be a limit on what the homeowner will have to pay in property taxes. Local Homestead ExemptionsAuthorizes the Board of County Commissioners the authority to provide local homestead exemptions to county residents (including low-income seniors, disabled veterans, and the spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty), applied against the resident's total home value. These local tax exemptions are in addition to the state's existing homestead exemptions and will be identical to the state's traditional and enhanced homestead exemptions. Promotes Transparency in Property Tax LeviesThe legislation works to give taxpayers a guaranteed tax rate and a clearer understanding of the impact of their vote on levies. The bill removes a loophole in the tax reduction factor by requiring that certain fixed sum levies count toward the school district 20-mill floor calculation, including emergency levies. Additionally, the bill eliminates the authority of school districts to seek new substitute levies. Unlike other fixed-sum levies, substitute levies generate additional revenue when new construction is added to the tax list. Finally, the bill will prohibit a school district from changing the purpose of its inside millage in any way that would increase its property tax revenue. Billions in Direct ReliefInside millage is property tax millage that may be levied without prior voter approval, up to 10 mills per property. The bill includes provisions that prohibit all political subdivisions from levying inside millage, except townships. Townships may levy inside millage, but it is limited to the amount they levied in tax year 2024. This update will deliver a direct tax savings of $3.5 billion to Ohioans. Allows Optional Local Sales Tax IncreaseAs part of the bill, counties may raise their sales tax by up to 1% only with approval from the majority of voters, giving communities alternative revenue options beyond property tax increases. Oversight of Excess Reserves & Increased Public Input on LeviesThe bill expands on the House-passed version of the budget by requiring the County Budget Commission (CBC) to hold public hearings if any taxing authority carries over more than 30% of its annual budget in reserve. The County Budget Commission can reduce future levies accordingly. Additionally, the legislation ensures greater community awareness and involvement by requiring public meetings on new county commissioner proposed levies. Prevents Shifting Inside MillageAdditionally, the bill prohibits a school district from increasing tax revenue by changing the purpose of unvoted inside millage, reducing stealth tax hikes. More Authority for Budget CommissionsUnder this legislation, County Budget Commissions get greater power to monitor, review, and adjust levies — improving coordination across taxing authorities. The bill will receive a committee assignment in the coming days. Valley residents complained of sticker shock during the recent property reassessment that fueled increases as much as 30%. Properties underwent scheduled reassessment in 2022 and 2023, and those tax bills came due in 2024. Commissioners in Trumbull and Mahoning counties have been working with lawmakers to address the issue, calling for a coalition of counties to come together and press lawmakers to provide relief for homeowners. Earlier this month, the Ohio Attorney General approved language that could soon allow for the Citizens for Property Tax Reform to put a constitutional amendment on the November ballot to eliminate property taxes in Ohio. The County Auditor's Association of Ohio has been at the forefront in asking for property tax reform, and some lawmakers have taken their suggestions — some of which are in the Property Tax Relief Now Act. You can read more about their suggestions on the group's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How to submit a public comment on Ohio's E-Check Ease Act
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WJW) — A plan to make Ohio's biannual vehicle emissions testing easier will soon go before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval, and state regulators want to hear from Ohio drivers. The E-Check Ease Act, introduced by state Reps. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) and Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Township), was incorporated into the state's biennial transportation budget bill signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine at the end of March. PHOTOS: Truck goes off road, US 422 ramp closed Under Ohio's E-Check program, residents in seven counties — Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit — who own cars that are between 4 and 25 years old are required to have their emissions inspected every two years. A passing inspection is required for vehicle registration in those seven counties. The proposed change would expand the exemption for newer cars from four years old to six years old. Hybrid vehicles that are seven years old or newer would also be exempt. The bill also allows vehicle owners to forego inspections entirely and obtain an 'alternative emissions certificate' from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, attesting that their car meets state emissions laws 'to the best of their knowledge.' That attestation could be rejected if the EPA determines it was falsified or if the driver was cited in the past two years for excessive exhaust or a noisy muffler, or if their vehicle was in a collision in the prior two years which caused 'substantial' internal damage. Rejected owners would then have to get the car inspected. The Ohio EPA is required to submit the new certification process to the U.S. EPA, which must decide whether it complies with the federal Clean Air Act before it can move ahead. If approved, the Ohio EPA would then implement the state-level changes. The public comment period for the bill opened earlier this month and runs through June 2. Public comments can be emailed to DAPC-Comments@ through then. The Ohio EPA is then expected to respond to the public comments and submit the changes to the U.S. EPA. 'For 30 years, Northeast Ohio has been unfairly burdened by E-Check,' Roemer is quoted in a Wednesday news release. 'It is far past time to address this problem, and I encourage citizens to reach out to eviscerate this burden.' Bond set at $2 million as Aliza Sherman's alleged killer appears in court: I-Team State Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma) in a Wednesday news release said the E-Check program 'may have been well-intentioned' when it was created in 1996, but there's no evidence it has actually reduced vehicle emissions since then. He said drivers actually burn about 600,000 gallons of gas per year just to comply with the mandate. 'The $11 million the state spends would be better spent on conservation education and public transit,' he is quoted in the release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio bill would create emergency alerts for escaped inmates
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Ohio residents could begin receiving notifications when inmates escape correctional facilities, in a proposed system that would operate similarly to Amber Alert. House Bill 23, sponsored by Reps. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) and Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Township), would allow law enforcement to immediately notify residents in the 'surrounding area' of a jail or prison when an inmate has escaped. The proposed system is named the 'escaped convict alert program.' 'The idea is to have a Amber Alert-style system that will make residents aware if an individual escapes from confinement,' Williams said. 'They can be made aware in real time that there's someone in the community who may have a higher propensity to do carjackings or break into homes or do crimes in an effort to flee the area.' The alert system would apply to inmates who were convicted of, indicted of or pleaded guilty to a felony offense. Williams believes the alerts would enhance residents' safety and help law enforcement locate escaped inmates. 'If an individual escapes, there needs to be one immediate alert provided to the residents so they can make sure they secure their property and be on the lookout for this individual,' Williams said. 'Our law enforcement officers would have the opportunity to apprehend that individual in a quicker fashion because the community is engaged now.' The details of the system still need to be hashed out during committee hearings, Williams said. However, Williams said he plans for the notifications to be sent directly to residents' phones, as well as broadcast through televisions and the radio. 'Our initial opinion is that similar to Amber Alert, you will get notifications directly to your phone with that very loud annoying sound that gets your attention and now has you on the lookout for an individual,' Williams said. 'Especially with modern phones, we could even provide a picture of the individual.' The bill, introduced in January, also noted that any entity involved in broadcasting alerts could not be held liable for any 'damages' or 'loss' that might result from sharing or failing to share the notification. Roemer introduced a similar bill in October 2024, but it did not progress to the point of receiving a hearing before the legislative session ended. Indiana and Oklahoma have enacted similar alert systems for escaped inmates. Ohio did not experience any escapes from prisons from 2019 to 2022, according to the state Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Two inmates escaped from a Lima correctional institution in 2023, marking the state's most recent prison escape. 'I think this is a bipartisan bill that should not have any opposition and I look forward to the committee process moving in steadfast and providing safety and security to our residents,' Williams said. HB 23 was assigned to the House's Public Safety Committee where it awaits its first hearing. The bill has 11 Republican and three Democrat cosponsors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
