By Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall, Populist
A huge thank you to Lake County Recorder Becky Lynch for providing us with the following details about fees collected by her office.
The Ohio Revised Code establishes fees for every County Recorder offices.
https://www.ohiorecorders.com/aws/ORA/asset_manager/get_file/894927?ver=1
STATE OF OHIO
COUNTY RECORDER TABLE OF FEES
RECORDING FEES for the following documents: $34.00 for the first TWO pages and $8.00 for each additional page.
The fee for each MARGINAL NOTATION: $4.00
Of these fees, 50% is the basic recording fee and 50% is for the Ohio Housing Trust Fund
See Ohio Revised Code Sections 317.32 and 317.36 for specifics
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-317.32
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-317.36
Here is the annual revenue for the Recorder’s office for the last six years. This money is placed in the County’s general fund that is then under the control of the three Commissioners.
2025 $2,000,810.42
2024 $1,753,795.00
2023 $1,636,701.00
2022 $2,112,783.20
2021 $3,107,793.20
2020 $2,602,550.60
This raises additional questions in my mind. Should the government be in the business of generating a profit on the backs of taxpayers? If the other governmental agencies, such as the Clerk of Courts, generates a profit and the surplus cash is maintained by the Commissioners’ office, is it too much to ask that these surpluses be given back to the taxpayers in the form of property tax reductions collected by the Commissioners?
The Ohio Revised Code allows the government to collect 10 mills (1%) on the assessed value (appraised or market value x 35%) of residential, agricultural, business and public utilities properties. The County’s share of the inside millage is currently 1.0 mills. The total inside millage for each taxpayer depends on the taxing district in which they reside. Most of the 32 taxing districts collect 8.9 inside mills, but there are a few that collect less. The balance of 1.1 mills is closely guarded by the Commissioners since they reduced their take a few years ago when they increased the sales tax.
The estimated total revenue generated by the County government for the 2025 collection year was $8,833,035 (per the Auditor’s Schedule A report). Revenue from inside millage will automatically increase, without a vote of the taxpayers, as property values increase.
If the Commissioners’ office generates additional revenue from automatic increases in property tax revenues, without a vote of the taxpayers, why aren’t those increases given back to the taxpayers in the form of property tax reductions on the inside millage collected?
Are we asking too much of our government not to tax us out of our homes? Are we asking too much to cut our rent to the government for our homes.
Do the politicians believe that home ownership is the foundation of our freedom and liberty, or do they believe that we should all be part of the collective?
Here is Senator Jerry Cirino giving his views on property taxes:
Sadly, I see a disturbing trend. Politicians are losing sight of freedom and liberty. They are, in my opinion, violating their oath of office to support and defend the Ohio Constitution.
Article 1, Section 1 Inalienable Rights
“All men are, by nature, free and independent, and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and seeking and obtaining happiness and safety.”
The public sector has outgrown the private sector’s ability to pay for services..
Save freedom and liberty for this and future generations, disregard what Senator Jerry Cirino says, sign the petition, and vote to abolish Ohio’s immoral property taxes.
Categories: Community Activism, Real Estate Taxes