Concord Trustees vote to oppose Ohio amendment ending property taxes
Concord Township Trustees on Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution opposing a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate property taxes in Ohio.
The Committee to Abolish Ohio’s Property Taxes is working to collect enough signatures to place the amendment on the November ballot. The group must have 413,488 valid signatures by June 30 to file the signatures July 1 with the Ohio Secretary of State. Its stated goal is 620,232 signatures to account for any that may be disqualified.
Trustee Amy Lucci said eliminating property taxes would leave townships with few options.
“Obviously, our township future would be uncertain without a state‑funded bailout or new taxing rights,” she said. “Townships would be forced to either incorporate, which is an attempt to become a city or a village. This often requires high population density and brings significantly higher administration costs.”
Lucci said eliminating property taxes would harm Concord Township and communities across the state.
Trustee John Wiertel urged residents to research the issue carefully.
“You’re gonna have to weed through some garbage, you know, and you’re gonna have to try to get to the facts and do the best you can,” he said. “Once you find the facts, you realize that we couldn’t survive.”
He added that eliminating a revenue source without replacing it is unrealistic.
“It’s really easy to say, oh, we’re just gonna get rid of it. OK? It’s just gonna go away and this upgrade’s gonna be better. Well, at the end of the day, something still needs to fill that place, whether it’s taxes or whatever it is, you know, to take care of our communities.”
Wiertel said he is glad the board took a formal position.
Trustees Chairman Carl Dondorfer agreed that public education is essential.
“Again, we understand the strain of property tax. Abolishment, obviously, is not the answer. It would significantly decimate townships throughout Ohio,” he said. “A lot of people don’t understand – or even those that signed the petitions. A few that I talked to didn’t recognize the fact that Concord Township, 78% of our budget goes toward funding critical services. So, you know, safety, fire department. Those things are all important.
Dondorfer said trustees plan to work with state lawmakers on potential reforms.
Wiertel also noted that the township receives only 23% of the property taxes residents pay.
“So you have a $10,000 property tax bill. We’re getting $2,300 to plow your roads, to maintain your roads, to when you pick up that phone, you dial 911, that they show up,” he said. “And they’re gonna do it, but we’re only getting 23% a year.”
Editorial comments by Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall, Concord Township Resident
Wow, the Concord Trustees voted to not support the amendment to save freedom and liberty for this and future generations. They obviously do not believe in the sanctity of home ownership. They do not believe that private property is the cornerstone of freedom and liberty. They do not mind if their residents are merely renters from the government. And they do not mind it seniors are priced out of their homes because of the ever-increasing property taxes. I wonder if they believe that if seniors cannot afford their property taxes, they should sell their home and move into an apartment?
They swore an oath to support and defend the U.S. And Ohio Constitution. Shame on them for violating that oath.
“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.”…Article 1, Section 1 Inalienable Rights…Ohio Constitution
They have hopped on board the socialists’ train.
I know Trustees Amy Lucci and Carl Dondorfer. I thought they would at least sit down and discuss the issue. Alas, thinking outside the box does not appear to be in their wheelhouse. The new Trustee John Wiertel was given my contact information at his swearing in ceremony, and I asked him to contact me if he wants to hear about the property tax issue. It is obvious that he is not interested in hearing from this average citizen.
They stated that Concord Township gets “only 23%” of the property taxes residents pay. Well, that used to be “only 17%”.
The other argument that Townships usually use is that people move to Townships because they will not have to pay an income tax. Don’t look now, but the Riverside School District is about to pass a 1% income tax levy.
I have told Andy Rose, Concord’s Administrator, that we will pay for reasonable government services – just send me an itemized bill, just as I pay for my garbage pickup. However, nothing gets tied to my home.
The government should not be in the business of property valuation. That is not a role of government.
What does the value of my home have to do with what I pay for police, fire, EMS, and roads? Why should I pay more or less than my neighbor for those services because my house is worth more or less. Why don’t we all pay equally for the services rendered?
I would usually recommend that the Trustees contact our State Representatives and Senator to develop options for Townships. However, the State legislators would not even speak to us when we wanted to speak to them about abolishing property taxes for seniors.
They could request that the state government increase the local government funds that were reduced by Governor Kasich in 2011, and police and fire services should take priority over funding for public libraries. Ohio is number 1 in the country for funding of public libraries. However, that would require that they step outside their comfort zone, and think “outside of the box”.
A basic problem we have is the growth of government at all levels. Here is former State Representative and Lake County Commissioner telling what he has learned after a lifetime of government service.
Categories: Concord, Lake County - General, Lake County Cities & Townships, Uncategorized