The Buckeye Institute Offers 10 Specific Recommendations to Lower Property Taxes

Strategic Insights -

The Buckeye Institute, an independent research and educational institution, has outlined 10 specific recommendations to reform local government and reduce the soaring property tax burden on Ohio homeowners. The recommendations aim to provide a roadmap for the Property Tax Reform Working Group to lower property taxes while maintaining critical local government services. Ohioans are demanding reform, threatening a constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes altogether, and The Buckeye Institute's work offers solutions to avoid this drastic step.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Buckeye Institute recommends requiring county commissioners or county budget commissions to approve most property tax levies before they are placed on the ballot.
  • The institute suggests giving county budget commissions the authority to lower the tax rate when more property taxes than necessary are collected from homeowners.
  • Eliminating or modifying the 20-mill floor would prohibit school districts from increasing property taxes on Ohioans without a vote.
  • The Buckeye Institute suggests eliminating or capping the growth of inside millage to prevent property tax increases not explicitly approved by voters.
  • Incentivizing state funding tied to performance metrics and efficiency improvements would reduce local government expenses while maintaining or enhancing service quality.
  • Consolidating the number of local government entities would minimize administrative redundancies, streamline decision-making processes, and ensure better resource allocation.
  • Requiring all local governments to join the Ohio Checkbook would make their operations more transparent.
  • Eliminating tax abatements that shift property tax burdens onto families and small businesses is also recommended.
  • Local governments should be required to spend state tax dollars on specific, critical needs.
  • Sharing state tax dollars with local communities needing support to provide critical goods and services is also suggested.

Statistics:

  • The 20-mill floor currently prohibits school districts from increasing property taxes on Ohioans without a vote.
  • Ohio homeowners are demanding reform, threatening a constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes altogether.
  • Failure to reform local government could lead to a drastic measure, such as abolition of property taxes.
  • 10 specific recommendations are offered by The Buckeye Institute to reform local government and lower property taxes.
  • The recommended reforms aim to reduce the soaring property tax burden on Ohio homeowners.
  • Ohio Checkbook is a transparency initiative already adopted by some local governments.

Sources:

  • The Buckeye Institute, "Local Government Reform Necessary to Lower Property Taxes" (2025)
  • The Buckeye Institute, "Sustainable Ohio: How to Fund Ohio's Cities in the 21st Century" (2022)
  • The Buckeye Institute, "Local Government Funding Reform: Cost-Saving Alternatives to State Revenue Sharing" (2019)
  • The Buckeye Institute, "Joining Forces" (2011)
  • The Buckeye Institute, "The Buckeye Institute Offers 10 Specific Recommendations to Lower Property Taxes" (2023)