Freeing Ohio Homeowners:
The Case for Eliminating Property Taxes
Imagine a future where homeownership in Ohio isn’t burdened by rising property taxes. A small but determined coalition in Lake County is leading the charge to make this vision a reality. This grassroots effort is pushing for a constitutional amendment that would eliminate property taxes altogether, ensuring that homeowners are no longer subject to a never-ending financial burden on the homes they’ve already paid for.
This is more than a policy shift—it’s a battle for fairness, government efficiency, and the right to true homeownership. Without reform, Ohioans will continue to live under a system where they are essentially renting their homes from the government, forever at risk of losing them if they cannot meet ever-rising tax demands.
The Problem: Homeownership Under Government Control
Ohio’s property tax system forces residents to pay indefinitely for property they already own. Unlike a mortgage, which has a clear end, property taxes never stop. Even after decades of payments, homeowners must continue to pay the government or risk losing their homes.
This burden hits the hardest on seniors, retirees, and those on fixed incomes. After a lifetime of work, many find themselves struggling to pay rising taxes on homes they no longer have an active income to support. The system does not care if you’re a widow, a disabled veteran, or a struggling family—it demands payment, year after year, without relief.
Making matters worse, property values are reassessed regularly, and the results are often arbitrary. When homeowners receive these updated valuations, they are given no transparency into how the numbers were calculated. The Auditor’s Office holds all the data, which is funded by taxpayer dollars, yet the burden of proof in any appeal falls squarely on the homeowner.
This lack of transparency, combined with aggressive tax collection policies, turns
homeownership into an insecure and unpredictable financial liability rather than a stable investment.
Renters Are Not Exempt from the Burden
Many people assume that property taxes only affect homeowners, but renters are equally impacted. When property taxes increase, landlords are forced to raise rents to cover the additional costs. This means renters—many of whom already struggle with the rising cost of living—end up paying more, even though they have no control over the tax policies causing the hikes.
Renters, just like homeowners, are caught in a cycle where they are continually forced to pay more for housing without seeing any real benefits. Eliminating property taxes would not only provide relief for homeowners but would also help stabilize rental prices, making housing more affordable for everyone.
School Funding: An Unsustainable Model
One of the biggest drivers of property tax increases is school funding. More than 60% of property tax revenue goes directly to public schools, creating a system where local education budgets are tied to ever-rising property values. This approach is fundamentally flawed for several reasons:
- It Creates Educational Inequality – Wealthier communities with higher property values generate significantly more funding for their schools, while lower-income districts struggle. This widens the gap between affluent and struggling school systems, leaving students’ futures dependent on where they live rather than their potential.
- It Encourages Unchecked Spending – School districts continue to expand budgets, knowing they can return to taxpayers for more funding through levies.
- Over 80% of School Budgets Go to Wages and Benefits – While students and teachers often lack resources, school districts spend the overwhelming majority of their budgets on payroll. There are too many overpaid administrators, assistant administrators, and support staff positions that need to be cut and consolidated, while teachers—the ones actually responsible for educating our children—remain underpaid.
- It Ignores Economic Realities – Property taxes do not adjust for economic downturns or financial hardships. Even when a homeowner loses their job or faces medical bills, the tax bill arrives like clockwork, and failure to pay can result in foreclosure.
Rather than forcing homeowners and renters to shoulder the burden of school funding, a fairer and more efficient system must be established—one that does not tie the stability of public education to the constant reassessment and taxation of private property.
A Smarter Alternative: Government Efficiency Instead of Taxation
The proposed amendment does not specify exactly where replacement funding would come from, but it does lay the foundation for a new approach. A Department of Government Efficiency would be created to identify alternative revenue sources that do not penalize homeowners and renters.
Potential solutions include:
- Sales Tax Adjustments – Expanding sales taxes to certain goods and services would generate revenue from broader economic activity rather than targeting property owners.
- State Lottery & Gaming Revenues – Ohio already collects significant revenue from these sources, which could be redirected to school funding.
- Marijuana Taxation – With marijuana now legal in Ohio, tax revenues from its sale could supplement public services.
- Reducing Government Waste – Schools and local governments must be held
accountable for their spending. By eliminating unnecessary administrative positions and excessive overhead, millions of dollars could be freed without additional taxation. - Eliminating Property Taxes – will drastically reduce the roles and responsibilities of the Treasurer and Auditor in both county and state government. This will minimize the size and cost for both the county and state.
The goal is to ensure that essential services are funded in a way that is fair, sustainable, and does not place undue burden on homeowners and renters.
Addressing Concerns: What Happens Without Property Taxes?
Critics of this amendment claim that eliminating property taxes would leave schools and local governments without adequate funding. This is a misleading argument. Many states and municipalities have successfully shifted away from property taxes by adopting diversified revenue models that spread the tax burden more equitably.
Additionally, government waste is rarely addressed in these discussions. Schools and local governments have grown accustomed to unchecked spending, knowing they can always turn to taxpayers for more. By enforcing responsible budgeting and redirecting existing revenue sources, Ohio can fund essential services without relying on permanent taxation of property owners and renters.
The amendment would also eliminate the threat of foreclosure due to unpaid property taxes. Currently, if a homeowner cannot pay their taxes for three consecutive pay cycles (18 months), the government can seize and sell their home—even if it is fully paid off. This policy is not just unfair; it is a direct attack on property rights. No one should lose their home over a tax bill.
The Bigger Picture: Restoring True Home Ownership
At its core, this amendment is about restoring true home ownership. If property taxes never go away, can anyone ever truly own their home? Or are we all just long-term tenants of the government, paying indefinitely for the right to stay?
By eliminating property taxes, Ohio would ensure that once a home is paid off, it belongs fully to the owner—not the government. This would provide financial security for families, allow homes to be passed down through generations without the burden of taxation, and put an end to government-driven foreclosures.
This reform is about more than just taxes—it’s about protecting the fundamental right to own property without the perpetual threat of government seizure.
A Call to Action: Ohioans, This is Our Moment
This small but determined coalition is leading the charge, but they cannot do it
alone. Every Ohio homeowner and renter has a stake in this fight. We must demand that our elected officials take action.
Here’s how you can help:
- Support the Amendment – Sign petitions, spread the word, and encourage others to get involved. [AxOHTax.com]
- Attend Public Meetings – Show up at local meetings and voice your support for property tax elimination.
- Contact Your Representatives – Call, email, and write to state legislators demanding that they support this initiative.
- Educate Your Community – Many Ohioans don’t realize how much property taxes affect them until it’s too late. Share this information and rally support.
This is our opportunity to break free from an unjust system and restore true homeownership in Ohio. The time to act is now. Together, we can bring real change to Ohio and ensure that no homeowner or renter is ever forced to live in fear of rising costs driven by property taxes.
AxOhTax.com
Editorial opinion by LFC….
Here are two videos that add valuable information on this topic:
Watch Ashtabula’s State Representative David Thomas talk about the alternative to property taxes.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=wwXIfr&v=656188593796645&rdid=h7WFBxQA0VzFaPc7
Categories: Community Activism, Property Tax Petition, Real Estate Taxes, Uncategorized