By Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall
We wrote to Geauga County Commissioner, Carolyn Brakey, regarding her meeting with Governor candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy.
Commissioner Brakey,
Sorry, but we do not support Vivek Ramaswamy’s vision to eliminate Ohio income taxes. Also, his vision to cap property taxes is all wrong. Home ownership is the foundation of freedom and liberty!
Governor DeWine stated that the two top funding sources for public schools are property taxes and income taxes. By eliminating income taxes, we will be adding more emphasis on property taxes.
Any tax causing a citizen to become homeless is immoral. We are merely renters from the government.
Would you sign our petition to abolish Ohio property taxes? I would be glad to bring a petition to you for your signature.
Thank you,
Brian Massie
Member, Committee to Abolish Ohio Property Taxes
This is Commissioner Brakey’s response to me:
Brian,
Thank you for your message.
To clarify, I was not endorsing Vivek Ramaswamy’s tax proposals, just sharing highlights from our conversation. Like you, I believe home ownership is foundational, and I agree that no one should be taxed out of their home.
In my view, income taxes are more corrosive to liberty than property taxes. They punish work, discourage productivity, and give the state more power to peer into every corner of our financial lives. Property taxes, while flawed, at least offer local control, voter oversight, and a more direct connection to the services being funded.
That does not mean the current system is just. But if we eliminate property taxes, how are we funding essential local services like law enforcement and roads? My concern is that without reducing the size and scope of government, we are simply shifting the burden from one tax to another without addressing the real issue, which is runaway government spending.
As a side note, my understanding is that many corporations in Ohio do not pay traditional income taxes but are instead subject to a gross receipts tax. In many cases, property taxes are their primary local contribution. Eliminating them outright could result in a windfall for large commercial property owners, not just homeowners.
Thanks again for reaching out.
Carolyn Brakey, Esq.
Geauga County Commissioner
Editorial by Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall
While we appreciate Commissioner Brakey’s quick response to our email, she is still not a supporter of our constitutional amendment. We flatly disagree with her stance on income taxes, and she will not sign our petition to let the people have a vote to save their homes, freedom and liberty. We will be sure to let her constituents know.
Categories: Community Activism, Real Estate Taxes