Op-Ed: Senator Cirino’s Property Tax Defense Is More Spin Than Solution
By: AxOhTax.com
In his recent “On the Record” interview, State Senator Jerry Cirino spent considerable time defending Ohio’s broken property tax system while attacking those calling for its abolition. His arguments sound reasonable on the surface but collapse under scrutiny. They reveal a lawmaker more interested in protecting government revenue streams and politically connected projects than relieving the crushing burden on Ohio homeowners. He is more worried about his donor base
than the average citizens of Ohio.
Data Centers: “Good Taxpayers”?
Senator Cirino touts data centers as major property taxpayers that bolster local budgets. This is highly misleading. Many data centers secure massive tax abatements, multi-year Payment-In- Lieu-Of-Taxes (PILOT) deals, and complete exemptions on their most valuable assets — the servers and equipment inside. While they may pay something, their net contribution often falls far short of the strain they place on local roads, water systems, power infrastructure, and emergency services.
In reality, these sweetheart deals frequently shift more of the tax burden onto existing residential and small business property owners. Selling data centers as fiscal saviors while handing them tax breaks is classic corporate welfare dressed up as economic development.
Property Taxes: A “Fee for Services”?
The senator repeatedly claimed property taxes should be viewed as a simple “fee for services” — like paying for police, fire, schools, and roads. This is a rhetorical sleight of hand.
Unlike a true user fee, property taxes are compulsory, based on government-assessed property values that can rise dramatically even when a homeowner’s income does not. They punish people for improving their property or simply owning a home in an appreciating area. Fixed- income seniors and families on tight budgets get hit hardest. Calling this coercive wealth tax a “fee” doesn’t make it fair — it just makes the spin more insulting.
Why is the payment of local services based on the value of someone’s home. It creates an unfair payment system since the service has nothing to do with the valuation of the taxpayer’s home.
The $24 Billion Scare Tactic
Cirino warns that abolishing property taxes would blow a $24 billion hole in local and school budgets, painting repeal advocates as irresponsible dreamers with no replacement plan.
This $24 billion figure is the gross amount cited by the Ohio Office of Budget and Management. While net collections (after rollbacks, homestead exemptions, and credits) are somewhat lower — closer to $20 billion in prior years — the state’s headline number has grown with soaring property values. Either way, the warning is a classic false choice.
No serious person expects government to magically replace $24 billion overnight without reforms. The real question is why Ohio remains so dangerously dependent on one of the most unpopular and regressive taxes in existence. Other states fund schools and local services through a broader mix of sales, income, or consumption-based taxes. Ohio lawmakers have had decades to diversify revenue and control spending — instead, they defend the status quo and lecture taxpayers about patience.
Senator CiRINO does not agree that private property ownership is the foundation of our freedom and liberty. He has violated his oath of office to support and defend the Ohio Constitution. He completely ignores Article 1, Section 1 of the Ohio Constitution dealing with inalienable rights.
Groups like Policy Matters Ohio highlight that Ohio already forgoes roughly $12–13 billion annually in various tax expenditures, loopholes, and corporate tax breaks. If the state can afford to give away that much revenue every year with little accountability, it can certainly find smarter ways to replace or reduce reliance on property taxes without devastating local services.
Personal Attacks Instead of Policy
Rather than engaging the substance, the senator resorted to personal and political jabs. He highlighted that two repeal movement founders live in his district, (He is mistaken, there are 3 movement founders living in his district but being wrong is not a foreign concept to CiRINO.) bragged about meeting with 40+ mayors who then passed anti-repeal resolutions, and described a founder “storming out” of a meeting. He declared war on “We the People” in Ohio. This isn’t leadership — it’s dismissing legitimate voter frustration as the work of a fringe minority. Thousands of Ohio homeowners struggling with skyrocketing bills deserve better than being
portrayed as extremists for demanding real change.
“Reforms” That Still Raise Your Taxes
Senator CiRINO proudly touts recent Republican “relief” bills as delivering billions in savings. The truth is far less impressive. Most of these reforms don’t cut current property tax bills at all. They merely cap future increases at or near the rate of inflation for certain levies.
If your home was just reappraised 15–30% higher, you’re still stuck paying that elevated amount — and your taxes will continue rising every year, just at a slower pace. These are not tax cuts. They are speed limits on tax hikes. Promising “more reforms are coming” while taxes keep climbing is cold comfort to families already stretched thin. We have been told that Lake County residents can expect another 25% increase in property values in 2027.
Time for Honest Reform
Ohio’s property tax system is outdated, unfair, and overly reliant on taxing the American Dream. Senator CiRINO’s defense — heavy on scare tactics, corporate boosterism, and incremental half-measures — fails to address the core problem: homeowners are being taxed out of their homes to fund an inefficient, ever-growing local government apparatus. CiRINO’s solution is if seniors cannot afford their property taxes, they should sell their home and move into an apartment. That
will help with Ohio’s housing shortage also.
Real leadership would mean immediate, meaningful relief on current bills, structural
diversification of local revenues, strict spending controls, aggressive review of the billions in existing tax expenditures, and serious debate about whether property taxes should remain the primary funding source for schools in the 21st century.
Ohioans aren’t asking for the impossible. We’re asking for honesty, integrity and transparency in our government. It’s time Senator CiRINO and his colleagues stop defending a failing system and start delivering the bold tax reform voters actually want.
Here is LFC’s editorial comments on Jerry C RINO’s lies, deceptions and betrayals:
Here is the video of the event Jerry C RINO is complaining about. He probably is mad that he did not get invited, but we only wanted patriots to attend.
Here is what a real patriot sounds like.
Categories: Community Activism, Real Estate Taxes, State of Ohio