Local Officials Consider Property Tax Abolishment Hypotheticals
Officials from across Geauga County faced the unknown head-on Dec. 1 during the first-ever Property Tax Abolishment Response Taskforce meeting.
Officials from across Geauga County faced the unknown head-on Dec. 1 during the first-ever Property Tax Abolishment Response Taskforce meeting.
The taskforce — formed by Geauga County Commissioner Carolyn Brakey, Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz and Geauga County Auditor Chuck Walder — is made up of representatives from a variety of entities around the county, including the City of Chardon, several townships, West Geauga Schools, the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Geauga County Engineer’s Office and other authorities.
The taskforce was formed in response to recent grassroots efforts to abolish property taxes, including the Committee to Eliminate Ohio’s Property Taxes trying — but ultimately failing — to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot earlier this year.
Despite the setback, organizers are continuing their push, with Beth Blackmarr of the Citizens for Property Tax Reform reportedly telling Cleveland 5 News the group had collected more than 100,000 signatures at the end of October.
The movement has raised concerns among government officials both statewide and locally.
The PTART aims to consider the implications the abolishment of property tax would have on Geauga County and prepare for that scenario, according to a November letter Brakey, Flaiz and Walder sent to invited entities.
“Our goal is, I think, to be prepared for anything that could happen,” Walder told the taskforce, likening it to the emergency drills run for the Perry Nuclear Power Plant.
If property tax is abolished, every department will be impacted, including those not directly dependent on it, he emphasized.
The first meeting allowed each entity to outline how they would be affected and encouraged them to explore potential options, including circumstances they may not favor, such as consolidating with other entities.
Multiple organizations expressed worry about how they could continue providing services if property tax were eliminated.
In the Geauga County Public Library’s case, that could mean consolidating from six locations to one or two, GCPL Director Kris Carroll said.
Bainbridge Township Trustee Kristina O’Brien, Auburn Township Fiscal Officer Dan Matsko and Chardon City Manager Ben Young all noted concerns about the impacts to police and fire services. O’Brien also voiced concerns about township road maintenance if townships were to lose property tax funding.
Townships are almost entirely dependent on property taxes, Flaiz said.
The loss of local police would also put additional pressure on the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, which would be required to take on more responsibilities, Flaiz noted.
The GCSO also relies on the county’s general fund and if that fund became strained trying to support more entities, or was reduced, that would become a problem, said Geauga Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand.
While Bainbridge Township could incorporate if necessary, that does not take into account the residents’ wishes, Walder said, adding some people live there specifically for its rural character.
Incorporation also causes its own challenges since cities have more responsibilities than townships, Flaiz added.
Flaiz called property tax the most democratic taxation system in the county.
“Other than the inside millage and the 20-mill floor for schools, all of these property taxes are voted on by our residents,” he said.
Voters largely want schools and police departments to be funded, he said.
If the amendment passes, there could also be legal implications, he added.
Education for students is guaranteed in the Ohio Constitution. Eliminating property taxes would mean schools could no longer be adequately funded, creating two competing provisions within the constitution, Flaiz said.
Eliminating a revenue source also does not get rid of contractual obligations, Flaiz said, nor does it erase the statutory duties of various departments.
The Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services is required by law to offer certain services, Executive Director Christine Lakomiak said, adding if they were to lose property tax funding, that law may need to change.
“If voters approve this, we’re going to have to shrink government. What I’m worried about is, roads still need to be plowed and paved, the fire department still needs to come to my house and the police still need to respond when I call 911,” Flaiz said. “There’s some essential basic services that only government provides that we have to keep providing.”
While there have been suggestions to increase sales tax, it would have to rise to 21% to cover all governments in the county, Walder added.
