Officials Urge Reform, Reject Ending Property Taxes

May 13, 2026 by Ann Wishart

Claridon Township Trustee Jonathan Tiber told an audience May 4 that eliminating Ohio’s property taxes would effectively devastate township governments across the state.

Speaking during a property tax forum at Claridon Township Hall, Tiber said Claridon Township — which he described as receiving the lowest amount of property tax revenue in Geauga County — expects approximately $1.3 million in revenue from all sources this year.

About $1 million of that total comes from property taxes, he said.

“If property taxes went away, our revenue would be $300,000 to $400,000,” he said.

He noted Claridon Township’s fire contracts with Chardon and Burton total about $505,000 this year.

“We’ll be in the hole, just like that,” he said.

Tiber’s remarks followed a presentation by Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder, who said Ohio’s property tax system requires reform but warned abolishing property taxes entirely would lead to the collapse of township government.

Walder joined Tiber and Claridon Township Fiscal Officer Clint Hardman in explaining the state’s property tax structure to an audience of about 40 residents.

Walder was particularly critical of “inside millage,” which he described as taxes collected without direct voter approval.

“Inside millage is the amount of money they can take from you without your consent,” he said, adding inside millage is capped at 10 mills, with revenue divided among schools, municipalities or townships and county government.

The schools receive about 45% of inside millage revenue, townships and municipalities receive about 30% and the county receives about 25%, he said.

Although voted levies did not increase after the county’s 2022 property revaluation, Walder said inside millage collections rose sharply — in some cases by as much as 30%.

It had nothing to do with the economy or the sale of homes in the neighborhood, he added.

“I think that’s bad, as an auditor, because you had no say in it,” Walder said.

Residents do vote on outside millage levies, which fund township services such as police, fire protection, roads and cemeteries, he said.

“You can see there are a lot of functions and services that drive that revenue stream,” Walder said.

Walder also discussed school districts that qualify for Ohio’s 20-mill floor, which guarantees a minimum level of operating revenue.

Berkshire and Cardinal school districts currently qualify for the floor and therefore receive guaranteed property tax revenue in addition to existing voter-approved levies, he said.

Walder credited Ohio Sen. Sandra O’Brien and Rep. Dave Thomas with advancing several property tax reform bills through the Ohio House, but said broader reform is still necessary.

For more than 30 years, Ohio’s school funding system has increasingly shifted the burden of public education onto local property owners, Walder said, noting courts have twice ruled the system unconstitutional.

“It’s shameful that, in 30 years, they can’t fix a law,” Walder said. “They’re not doing their job.”

He said frustration over rising taxes has helped fuel support for the proposed constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes in Ohio.

However, Walder cautioned the amendment would eliminate all property taxes, leaving townships without a major source of operating revenue.

Not only would homeowners be relieved of the twice-yearly tax bill, but so would business and industrial property owners, he said.

“It means no Walmarts, gas stations, businesses or residents would pay property taxes,” Walder said, noting those properties still rely heavily on services funded by property taxes, including police, fire protection, EMS and road maintenance.

To qualify for the November 2026 ballot, supporters of the amendment must gather more than 414,000 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters, Walder said.

As of April 23, approximately 305,000 signatures had reportedly been collected, although Walder estimated supporters likely need between 600,000 and 700,000 signatures to ensure enough valid petitions.

“I think we should take this as a huge wake up call and reform our tax system, not just tax people because we can,” he said. “You need to reach out to your legislators. They will listen if you yell.”

Tiber warned the movement to abolish property taxes is unlikely to disappear even if supporters fail to qualify the amendment this year.

“They can wait and put it on the next (election) cycle,” he said. “Don’t wait to get on your legislators. They need to be poked — in a bunch of places.”