County Forms Taskforce to Prep for Possible Property Tax Abolishment
A number of departments and agencies across Geauga County have been invited to participate in a taskforce preparing for the possible abolishment of property taxes across Ohio, according to a letter from Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder.
A number of departments and agencies across Geauga County have been invited to participate in a taskforce preparing for the possible abolishment of property taxes across Ohio, according to a letter from Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder.
“As part of our continued commitment to resilience and the uninterrupted delivery of essential public services, we are creating and convening the Property Tax Abolishment Response Taskforce to develop preparedness strategies for a range of potential emergency and high-impact scenarios,” said the letter, which was also signed by Geauga County Commissioner Carolyn Brakey and county Prosecutor Jim Flaiz.
“Just as we maintain structured plans for natural disasters, severe weather events and other public safety emergencies, it is prudent that we also consider the potential implications of significant policy or fiscal shifts — including, for example, the possible abolishment of property tax as a significant funding mechanism for Geauga County governments,” the letter continued, noting that while this scenario is still a hypothetical, county officials have an obligation to maintain transparency and public stewardship, therefore approaching this situation the same way they would any other disruptive event.
The departments and agencies selected to participate in the taskforce are key stakeholders who are critical to the planning effort, the letter said.
They include: Geauga County Job and Family Services, Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, the Geauga County Public Library, Geauga County Commissioners, Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, Geauga County Engineer’s Office, Geauga County Veterans Services, Geauga County Department on Aging, Geauga County Automatic Data Processing board, Geauga County Auditor’s Office, Geauga County Treasurer’s Office, Geauga Public Health, several township trustees and school officials, among others.
The meeting will be held at the Geauga County Office Building Dec. 1 at 1 p.m.
