By Brian Massie, A Watchman on the Wall
A huge thank you to a Lake County patriot for sending this video on how property taxes started to us.
When I watched the video, I learned about the taxation system based on just taxing the land value. Then I remembered reading about State Senator Louis W. Blessing (R – Colerain Township) and his proposed Resolution 7 to authorize a land value tax in Ohio. Unfortunately, Senator Blessing does not realize that the public sector has outgrown the private sector’s ability to pay for the services.
Our message to Senator Blessing is shrink the size of government by cutting spending, otherwise we will finally realize when “blessing is a curse”!
Here is an excerpt from his statement on why he thinks it is a good idea.
Blessing Issues Statement on Resolution to Authorize Land Value Taxes in Ohio
January 15, 2026
COLUMBUS—Senator Louis W. Blessing, III (R-Colerain Township) issued the following statement regarding Senate Joint Resolution 7 to authorize land value taxes in Ohio:
“A land value tax (LVT) is simply a tax on the land, while a property tax is a tax on land and structures. SJR 7 simply seeks to authorize, not mandate, LVTs in Ohio. They are currently prohibited as the Ohio Constitution specifically says, “Land and improvements thereon”, which means only property taxes may be levied.
Why are LVTs superior to property taxes? Quite simply, they don’t tax development. If you buy a plot of land, and build an apartment on it, you are never taxed on the improvement which, in this case, is the apartment. LVTs flip our current system on its head. Consider three equal plots of land: A is just land; B has a single-family home on it; and C has an apartment complex. With property taxation, tax bills are highest in the following order: C, B, and A. However, with a LVT, the tax bills are all the same.
This is powerful because the incentive under a LVT is to develop land as much possible.
Categories: Community Activism, Contributors, Real Estate Taxes