By Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall
Lake County Commissioner John Plecnik provided the following message about property taxes and the Ohio State Legislators.
By refusing to reform property taxes NOW, Columbus is telling us, “You’ll own nothing and be happy.” In response, taxpayers are signing a petition to abolish property taxes and say, “We’ll pay nothing and be happy.”
Right here and now, Columbus has the budget to expand the homestead exemption to a 100% property tax exemption for seniors, and freeze property tax values at sales price for everyone else. No cuts to local budgets or essential services, such as roads, police, fire or public schools, are needed to do so.
It is a false dichotomy to suggest taxpayers must choose between oppressively high property taxes that automatically rise with inflation, or living in a post-apocalyptic wasteland with no services. Frankly, taxpayers are rightly offended by this craven lie, because they have learned there is a viable third option. We already pay billions in sales and income taxes to the state legislature, so we can afford to make them pay for property tax reform. And I do mean, “we can afford,” because ultimately, all tax dollars belong to us—WE THE PEOPLE—the taxpayers.
Admittedly, the state legislature might not have any money left over to subsidize professional football teams or power plants. However, I suspect that is a sacrifice most Ohioans are willing to make…
Categories: Community Activism, Lake, Real Estate Taxes