(The Center Square) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is joining the conversation about growing property taxes.
Yost, a Republican candidate for governor in 2026, wants county officials to form a coalition to reform property taxes. His call comes as a citizen-led ballot initiative is gathering signatures.
“Ohioans are as angry as I’ve ever seen them – and rightly so,” Yost said. “These inflationary tax increases are hurting everyone and, in some cases, are forcing people out of the homes they worked their entire lives for.”
The potential amendment that would completely ban property taxes has drawn concern from lawmakers and government leaders around the state.
Public schools, counties, townships, fire departments, police offices, parks, libraries, road maintenance, senior services, mental health, health care, and countless other government services in Ohio rely on property taxes for all or part of their funding.
As previously reported by The Center Square, if passed, the amendment would eliminate $19 billion in funding for local governments and services, and the proposal does not include an alternative funding source.
Yost predicts that if the amendment gathers enough signatures and makes it to the ballot in November, it will pass easily. He’s encouraging officials impacted directly by property taxes to lead the reform discussions quickly.
“Lead now, or the people will surely blow up the property-tax system,” Yost said. “Reform will be painful, but not nearly as painful as trying to replace $20 billion in revenue that supports schools and local government.”
Yost’s comments also come as the Republican-dominated House and Senate plan to return from summer recess July 21 override three of Gov. Mike DeWine’s 67 state budget vetoes that deal with property taxes.
The vetoes specifically deal with areas that give county commissions unilateral authority to reduce school levies, adds items to be included in the 20-mill floor calculations for school funding, and ban schools from asking for replacement or emergency levies.
