Cincinnati Property Tax Task Force Unveils Key Recommendations for Homeowners
The Cincinnati Property Tax Task Force has issued its findings and recommendations following five months of public input. In December, Hamilton County sent out new appraisal and levy information for homeowners. According to a June report by Housing Opportunities Made Equal in collaboration with eruka, 50% of property tax bills either decreased or remained stable, while 45% of bills saw significant increases, and 5% of bills more than doubled.
The task force found five major themes after public comment and dialogue:
- Long-term solutions must come from state lawmakers.
- Relief programs for low-to-moderate income homeowners are available at city and county levels.
The report from the city is divided into state and city recommendations. State recommendations include:
- Enhancing transparency in the assessment process with publicly available methodologies.
- Granting county auditors and treasurers the ability to suspend late fees for unpaid property taxes.
- Proposing a circuit breaker for homeowners and renters whose taxes exceed five times their income.
- Increasing income thresholds for the homestead exemption and indexing exemptions for inflation.
City recommendations involve:
- Launching an educational campaign to inform eligible homeowners about relief options.
- Extending an additional $1M in relief for homeowners with overdue property taxes.
- Pursuing strategies to reduce energy costs through investments.
The report outlines further ideas that need additional exploration. Visit 9 On Your Side for comprehensive details.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.