{"id":25795,"date":"2026-05-13T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/?p=25795"},"modified":"2026-05-13T18:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:30:00","slug":"ohios-property-tax-debate-reveals-shared-frustrations-across-party-lines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/13\/ohios-property-tax-debate-reveals-shared-frustrations-across-party-lines\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio\u2019s Property Tax Debate Reveals Shared Frustrations Across Party Lines"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13407 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina-664x1024.jpg 664w, https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a>By Jessica Molina<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201c911 services would put you on hold,\u201d was how Lisa Sobecki chose to illustrate opponents\u2019 concerns about the proposed Ax the Tax amendment. Reduced access to fire and emergency services, library closures, township governments potentially going under, and schools no longer having enough funds to pay staff are among the possible consequences if the Ax the Tax Property Tax proposal were to go into effect, according to opponents.<\/p>\n<p>Opponents argue that these potential consequences could significantly impact everyday life. So, how did the Ax the Tax petition gain so much attention?<\/p>\n<p>The Property Tax constitutional amendment started as a \u201cSave Our Seniors\u201d campaign led by Brian Massie. Massie shared that owning private property is how citizens gain or inherit wealth. Yet, while his mortgage was paid off, he was still required to pay an increasing property tax on a fixed income. In fact, his property taxes increased 40% over the past ten years. He felt like the government was putting his earned wealth at risk by continuing to tax him.<\/p>\n<p>Massie set out to learn more about property taxes and how they were calculated. He started by learning more about mills, the mill floor, and other concepts that typically have taxpayers going cross-eyed and giving up in overwhelm.<\/p>\n<p>As he continued to research property taxes, he learned that his county was using a third-party appraiser for the sexennial reevaluation process. He asked the appraiser how property values were calculated. According to Mr. Massie, the appraiser would not disclose how homes were appraised because the formula was proprietary information. Massie took this interaction as evidence that public funds were being used in a way he felt was not accountable to the taxpayer.<\/p>\n<p>Massie began meeting with elected officials. He scheduled meetings at the statehouse and even rented a room there in an attempt to draw more legislators into the conversation. He consistently came away disappointed, often meeting with young staffers instead of the legislators he sought. In response to the lack of engagement from lawmakers, Massie recalled a politician telling him that the government tends to \u201cprotect itself and grow,\u201d while legislators focus primarily on \u201cprotecting themselves and getting reelected.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was then clear to Massie that he was not going to be able to influence legislators through traditional channels. So, he became part of an effort to rewrite the Ohio Constitution through a citizen-led amendment.<\/p>\n<p>The Property Tax Amendment currently circulating through the \u201cAx the Tax\u201d petition aims to rewrite the way Ohio uses property taxes. More specifically, it would abolish taxes on real property and prohibit any future taxes on real property.<\/p>\n<p>While the proposal may sound attractive to taxpayers, opponents warn that eliminating property taxes could come at a significant cost. A community panel hosted by the Alliance of Northwest Ohio Public Service Advocates included researchers, data analysts, attorneys, farmers, local officials, and public servants. Collectively, the panel argued that property taxes need reform, but not a complete overhaul. According to panelists, a full elimination would be detrimental to everyday public services.<\/p>\n<p>To communicate the potential lasting effects, panelists shared information from their respective fields. Panelists from the Ohio Farm Bureau argued that farmland could become more vulnerable to development if current CAUV-related tax protections disappear. Lisa Sobecki shared that Lucas County could lose approximately $20 million from its budget if the amendment passed. Melissa Petrea explained that townships could lose the majority of their funding. A common concern among panelists was that eliminating property taxes would likely lead to significant increases in income or sales taxes, which some feared could push residents and consumers out of Ohio.<\/p>\n<p>Despite strongly opposing the amendment, several panelists acknowledged that Ohio\u2019s current school funding system is heavily dependent on property taxes and in need of reform. Panelists shared that approximately two-thirds of property taxes go toward schools. Ohio\u2019s school funding system has previously been ruled unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court, in part because of inequities tied to its dependence on property taxes. Panelists argued this concern is compounded by the fact that approximately $1.6 billion goes toward charter schools, which they said account for more than half of the F grades issued by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. While panelists expressed concern about the current structure of school funding, they argued that completely abolishing property taxes would create even greater instability for public education.<\/p>\n<p>Surprisingly, Massie raised similar concerns about the current structure of public education in Ohio. He argued that the state has too many school districts and administrative costs, while student proficiency rates continue to struggle. He specifically pointed to concerns surrounding Third Grade Reading Guarantee proficiency as evidence that the current funding system is not producing the outcomes taxpayers expect.<\/p>\n<p>Despite their disagreements, both sides expressed frustration with Ohio\u2019s current funding model. However, if Ax the Tax passes, where will the government get the money from? That answer remains unclear. Any replacement funding model would require action from state lawmakers.<\/p>\n<p>Panelists emphasized that lawmakers should already be working across party lines to develop more equitable and sustainable funding solutions, rather than allowing the issue to become politically polarized. Meanwhile, Massie\u2019s movement appears to be rooted in a similar frustration: the belief that lawmakers have failed to seriously address rising property taxes and housing affordability concerns.<\/p>\n<p>If the proposal passes this November, the Ax the Tax amendment would go into effect January 1, 2027. From that date forward, institutions that rely on property taxes would no longer be able to collect new property tax revenue. According to Mr. Massie, because property taxes operate in arrears, meaning 2026 property taxes fund 2027 budgets, legislators would effectively have at least one year to develop a replacement funding model. Massie also suggested that legal challenges could potentially delay implementation of the amendment while lawmakers work toward alternative funding solutions.<\/p>\n<p>Ohio allows citizens to bypass the legislature and attempt to amend the constitution directly through petition signatures. The Ax the Tax campaign plans to release an update in mid-June announcing whether it secured enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about Ax the Tax visit <a href=\"https:\/\/axohtax.com\/\">https:\/\/axohtax.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>To learn more about the opposing stance visit <a href=\"https:\/\/linktr.ee\/futureofpropertytaxes\">https:\/\/linktr.ee\/futureofpropertytaxes<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>El debate sobre los impuestos de propiedad en Ohio muestra que muchas personas est\u00e1n frustradas con el sistema actual<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Por Jessica Molina<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLos servicios del 911 te pondr\u00edan en espera,\u201d fue la manera en que Lisa Sobecki explic\u00f3 las preocupaciones sobre la propuesta Ax the Tax. Menos acceso a servicios de bomberos y emergencias, cierres de bibliotecas, problemas econ\u00f3micos para los townships y escuelas sin suficiente dinero para pagar a sus empleados son algunas de las preocupaciones mencionadas por quienes est\u00e1n en contra de la propuesta.<\/p>\n<p>Quienes est\u00e1n en contra dicen que estas posibles consecuencias podr\u00edan afectar mucho la vida de todos los d\u00edas. Entonces, \u00bfc\u00f3mo gan\u00f3 tanta atenci\u00f3n la petici\u00f3n Ax the Tax?<\/p>\n<p>La propuesta comenz\u00f3 como una campa\u00f1a llamada \u201cSave Our Seniors\u201d (\u201cSalvemos a nuestros adultos mayores\u201d), liderada por Brian Massie. Massie explic\u00f3 que tener una casa o propiedad es una manera en que muchas familias construyen riqueza y ayudan a futuras generaciones. Sin embargo, aunque ya hab\u00eda terminado de pagar su casa, segu\u00eda teniendo que pagar impuestos de propiedad cada vez m\u00e1s altos con un ingreso fijo. De hecho, sus impuestos aumentaron un 40% en los \u00faltimos diez a\u00f1os. \u00c9l sent\u00eda que el gobierno estaba poniendo en riesgo lo que hab\u00eda logrado con a\u00f1os de trabajo.<\/p>\n<p>Massie comenz\u00f3 a aprender m\u00e1s sobre los impuestos de propiedad y c\u00f3mo se calculan. Empez\u00f3 investigando temas como los \u201cmills\u201d, el \u201cmill floor\u201d y otros conceptos que, seg\u00fan \u00e9l, terminan confundiendo a muchas personas.<\/p>\n<p>Mientras segu\u00eda investigando, descubri\u00f3 que su condado estaba usando una empresa externa para reevaluar propiedades. \u00c9l pregunt\u00f3 c\u00f3mo calculaban el valor de las casas. Seg\u00fan Massie, la empresa no quiso explicar el m\u00e9todo porque la f\u00f3rmula era informaci\u00f3n privada de la compa\u00f1\u00eda. Massie tom\u00f3 esta situaci\u00f3n como una se\u00f1al de que el dinero p\u00fablico se estaba usando de una manera que, seg\u00fan \u00e9l, no era transparente para las personas que pagan impuestos.<\/p>\n<p>Massie comenz\u00f3 a reunirse con pol\u00edticos. Program\u00f3 reuniones en la legislatura estatal e incluso rent\u00f3 un sal\u00f3n para intentar atraer a m\u00e1s legisladores a la conversaci\u00f3n. Seg\u00fan cont\u00f3, muchas veces terminaba reuni\u00e9ndose con asistentes j\u00f3venes en lugar de los legisladores que quer\u00eda conocer. Tambi\u00e9n record\u00f3 que un pol\u00edtico le dijo que el gobierno tiende a \u201cprotegerse y crecer\u201d, mientras que muchos legisladores se enfocan principalmente en \u201cprotegerse y reelegirse\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Fue entonces cuando Massie decidi\u00f3 formar parte del esfuerzo para cambiar la Constituci\u00f3n de Ohio mediante una propuesta creada por ciudadanos.<\/p>\n<p>La propuesta Ax the Tax busca cambiar completamente la manera en que Ohio usa los impuestos de propiedad. M\u00e1s espec\u00edficamente, eliminar\u00eda los impuestos sobre bienes ra\u00edces y prohibir\u00eda futuros impuestos sobre propiedades.<\/p>\n<p>Aunque la propuesta puede sonar atractiva para muchas personas, quienes est\u00e1n en contra advierten que eliminar los impuestos de propiedad podr\u00eda traer consecuencias importantes. Un panel comunitario organizado por la Alliance of Northwest Ohio Public Service Advocates reuni\u00f3 a investigadores, analistas de datos, abogados, agricultores, funcionarios locales y trabajadores del servicio p\u00fablico. En general, el panel coincidi\u00f3 en que los impuestos de propiedad necesitan cambios, pero no una eliminaci\u00f3n completa. Seg\u00fan los participantes, eliminar completamente estos impuestos afectar\u00eda seriamente los servicios p\u00fablicos.<\/p>\n<p>Para explicar los posibles impactos, los panelistas compartieron ejemplos desde sus distintas \u00e1reas. Representantes del Ohio Farm Bureau dijeron que las tierras agr\u00edcolas podr\u00edan quedar m\u00e1s vulnerables a proyectos de construcci\u00f3n si desaparecen ciertas protecciones actuales. Lisa Sobecki coment\u00f3 que el condado de Lucas podr\u00eda perder aproximadamente $20 millones de su presupuesto si la propuesta se aprueba. Melissa Petrea explic\u00f3 que los townships podr\u00edan perder la mayor parte de su financiamiento. Otra preocupaci\u00f3n com\u00fan fue que eliminar los impuestos de propiedad probablemente llevar\u00eda a aumentos importantes en impuestos sobre ingresos o ventas, algo que algunos creen podr\u00eda hacer que personas y consumidores abandonen Ohio.<\/p>\n<p>Aunque muchos panelistas se opusieron fuertemente a la propuesta, tambi\u00e9n reconocieron que el sistema actual de financiamiento escolar en Ohio depende demasiado de los impuestos de propiedad y necesita cambios. Explicaron que aproximadamente dos tercios de esos impuestos van a las escuelas. Adem\u00e1s, recordaron que la Corte Suprema de Ohio anteriormente declar\u00f3 inconstitucional el sistema de financiamiento escolar del estado, en parte por las desigualdades relacionadas con esa dependencia de los impuestos de propiedad.<\/p>\n<p>Los panelistas tambi\u00e9n argumentaron que la situaci\u00f3n se complica porque aproximadamente $1.6 mil millones se destinan a escuelas charter, las cuales, seg\u00fan ellos, representan m\u00e1s de la mitad de las calificaciones \u201cF\u201d emitidas por el Departamento de Educaci\u00f3n y Fuerza Laboral de Ohio. Aunque reconocieron problemas en el sistema actual, afirmaron que eliminar completamente los impuestos de propiedad generar\u00eda a\u00fan m\u00e1s inestabilidad para la educaci\u00f3n p\u00fablica.<\/p>\n<p>Massie tambi\u00e9n expres\u00f3 preocupaciones similares sobre el sistema educativo actual. \u00c9l argument\u00f3 que Ohio tiene demasiados distritos escolares y demasiados costos administrativos, mientras que los niveles de rendimiento estudiantil contin\u00faan bajos. Tambi\u00e9n se\u00f1al\u00f3 preocupaciones relacionadas con la prueba de lectura de tercer grado como evidencia de que el sistema actual no est\u00e1 dando los resultados que las personas esperan.<\/p>\n<p>A pesar de sus diferencias, ambos lados expresaron frustraci\u00f3n con el modelo actual de financiamiento en Ohio. Sin embargo, si Ax the Tax llega a aprobarse, \u00bfde d\u00f3nde saldr\u00e1 el dinero para financiar al gobierno? Esa respuesta todav\u00eda no est\u00e1 clara. Cualquier nuevo modelo de financiamiento requerir\u00eda acci\u00f3n de los legisladores estatales.<\/p>\n<p>Los panelistas enfatizaron que los legisladores deber\u00edan trabajar juntos entre partidos pol\u00edticos para desarrollar soluciones m\u00e1s justas y sostenibles, en lugar de convertir el tema en una batalla pol\u00edtica. Mientras tanto, el movimiento de Massie tambi\u00e9n parece surgir de una frustraci\u00f3n similar: la creencia de que los legisladores no han abordado seriamente el aumento de impuestos de propiedad ni los problemas de vivienda asequible.<\/p>\n<p>Si la propuesta se aprueba este noviembre, entrar\u00eda en vigor el 1 de enero de 2027. Desde ese momento, las instituciones que dependen de los impuestos de propiedad ya no podr\u00edan recaudar nuevos ingresos provenientes de esos impuestos. Seg\u00fan Massie, debido a que los impuestos de propiedad funcionan \u201cen atraso\u201d, los impuestos cobrados en 2026 financian los presupuestos de 2027. Eso, seg\u00fan \u00e9l, dar\u00eda aproximadamente un a\u00f1o para desarrollar otro modelo de financiamiento. Tambi\u00e9n se\u00f1al\u00f3 que posibles desaf\u00edos legales podr\u00edan retrasar la implementaci\u00f3n mientras los legisladores buscan soluciones alternativas.<\/p>\n<p>Ohio permite que los ciudadanos intenten modificar la Constituci\u00f3n directamente mediante peticiones y recolecci\u00f3n de firmas. La campa\u00f1a Ax the Tax planea dar una actualizaci\u00f3n a mediados de junio para informar si lograron suficientes firmas para aparecer en la boleta de noviembre.<\/p>\n<p>Para m\u00e1s informaci\u00f3n sobre Ax the Tax: <a href=\"https:\/\/axohtax.com\/\">https:\/\/axohtax.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Para conocer la postura opositora: <a href=\"https:\/\/linktr.ee\/futureofpropertytaxes\">https:\/\/linktr.ee\/futureofpropertytaxes<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Jessica Molina \u201c911 services would put you on hold,\u201d was how Lisa Sobecki chose to illustrate opponents\u2019 concerns about the proposed Ax the Tax amendment. Reduced access to fire and emergency services, library closures, township governments potentially going under, and schools no longer having enough funds to pay staff are among the possible consequences<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13407,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_rtcl_gb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[311],"class_list":["post-25795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"aioseo_notices":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina.jpg",700,1080,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina.jpg",700,1080,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina.jpg",700,1080,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina-194x300.jpg",194,300,true],"large":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina-664x1024.jpg",640,987,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina.jpg",700,1080,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina.jpg",700,1080,false],"rtcl-gallery":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina-700x462.jpg",700,462,true],"rtcl-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina-320x240.jpg",320,240,true],"rtcl-gallery-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina-150x105.jpg",150,105,true],"psacp-medium":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina-500x500.jpg",500,500,true],"rpwe-thumbnail":["https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jessica-molina-45x45.jpg",45,45,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"LaPrensa Newspaper","author_link":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/author\/laprensa\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/category\/articles\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Articles<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"By Jessica Molina \u201c911 services would put you on hold,\u201d was how Lisa Sobecki chose to illustrate opponents\u2019 concerns about the proposed Ax the Tax amendment. Reduced access to fire and emergency services, library closures, township governments potentially going under, and schools no longer having enough funds to pay staff are among the possible consequences","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25795"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25795\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25796,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25795\/revisions\/25796"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25795"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=25795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}