Why Ohio Homeowners Are Talking About ‘No Property Taxes’

by Oliver Chapman

📊 How Ohio Compares Nationally

According to recent data, Ohio’s effective property tax rate was among the higher rates in the U.S., particularly compared with many other states when measured as a percentage of home value.

On average:

Ohio’s effective property tax rate has been roughly 1.3% of home value — placing it in the top 10 states nationwide for property tax burden as a share of value.

In Central Ohio specifically:

Counties like Franklin County typically see effective rates near or above the state average, because of a combination of school levies, municipal taxes, and countywide levies.

These figures help explain why property tax conversations resonate with local homeowners — especially as home values and local levies change over time.

✊ Who Started the Petition Effort

The group behind this statewide ballot effort is called Citizens for Property Tax Reform. According to their official site, they are a non-partisan grassroots organization focused on educating the public and advocating for property tax changes.

Their movement gained traction after homeowners — including organizers like Beth Blackmarr of Lakewood — spoke publicly about steep valuation increases and rising annual tax bills, prompting petition circulation across multiple counties.

📜 What the Proposal Actually Says

This initiative seeks a constitutional amendment to prohibit real property taxes entirely in Ohio.

According to the Citizens for Property Tax Reform site, the proposed language would add a section to the Ohio Constitution stating that:

“No tax shall be imposed on real property.”

“Real property” in this context includes land, homes, farms, and commercial properties.

🗳 The Signature & Ballot Process

To get this proposal on the ballot, Ohio’s election law requires petition signatures equal to 10% of the turnout in the last gubernatorial race from at least half of the state’s 88 counties.

That means:

Roughly 413,000 valid signatures
Spread geographically across many counties
With a deadline typically in early July of the election year

Supporters usually collect more signatures than the minimum to ensure they qualify after verification.

🤔 Why Are Property Taxes Rising?

Several factors contribute to the perception that property taxes are increasing rapidly:

📈 Higher Property Values

As home sale prices rise, even a stable tax rate can translate into a higher bill because the assessed value goes up as well.

🧾 Less Frequent Reassessments

Some Ohio counties only reassess property values every several years, which can cause sudden bumps when they do occur.

🏫 Local Levies and Voter-Approved Taxes

School district levies, fire levies, and other local millages can stack on top of each other, resulting in higher overall bills even if the base rate hasn’t changed.

Understanding the why behind tax increases helps frame the broader discussion.

📍 Where You Can Learn More or Get Involved

If you want to explore the petition or see signing stations:

➡ Visit Citizens for Property Tax Reform (official site):

👉 https://citizensforpropertytaxreform.org

They list the proposed amendment language, filing updates, and signing locations.

If you’re curious about the broader economic context of Ohio property taxes:

👉 U.S. Housing Data (Central Ohio-specific rates): https://www.ushousingdata.com/property-taxes/franklin-county-oh

For more reporting on the grassroots effort:

👉 River News article detailing how the petition could qualify: https://rivernews.org/2025/06/05/ohio-property-taxes-could-be-abolished-if-homeowner-b allot-initiative-succeeds/