By Jon Hanson, Etna Times
May 17, 2025. Etna, Ohio
Ohio homeowners in Etna Township and throughout Ohio, fed up with skyrocketing property tax bills, are rallying behind a petition to eliminate all real estate taxes in the state. Is that a good thing? Led by Citizens for Property Tax Reform, the initiative at ReformPropertyTax.com aims to amend the Ohio Constitution to abolish taxes on real property—land, buildings, and permanent structures. The petition cleared a major hurdle in May 2025 when Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost approved its language, and the Ohio Ballot Board gave its unanimous nod, allowing the signature collection to begin. Organizers need 413,000 valid signatures from at least 44 counties (50 percent of Ohio’s counties) to get the issue on the ballot, potentially as early as November 2025.
The frustration is real. I have personally witnessed people lose their homes for just a few thousand in real estate taxes. Property taxes have surged; it feels like a convenient scheme by the government (print money to cause inflation and then tax the inflation), with collections jumping from $15.6 billion in 2019 to $20.3 billion recently, driven by soaring home values (inflation) aided by government printing of money. In Cuyahoga County alone, property values rose 32% after last year’s reappraisal, leaving homeowners like Beth Blackmarr, the group’s spokesperson, feeling “clobbered.” The group argues that taxing unrealized home value gains is unfair, and they’re calling for a complete overhaul of how Ohio funds essential services like schools, police, and libraries.
I’m intrigued by the idea of scrapping property taxes. The burden hits hard, especially for seniors and those on fixed incomes who risk losing homes they’ve lived in for decades. ReformPropertyTax.com is rallying volunteers to spread the word, emphasizing the “power in numbers” to push this citizen-led movement forward. But here’s the catch: eliminating property taxes, which generated $19.5 billion in 2022, would blow a massive hole in funding for schools, emergency services, and local governments. Critics warn it could devastate Ohio’s already strained education system and cripple local services.
To fill the gap, we’d likely need another revenue source—probably a sales tax hike. While this could shift the burden to consumption rather than property ownership, it raises big questions. How high would the sales tax need to go? Would it be fairer than the current system? And what about low-income Ohioans who’d feel the pinch? The petition doesn’t spell out a replacement plan, leaving more unknowns than answers.
I’m all for relief from crushing property taxes, but this proposal feels like a leap into the unknown. If you’re passionate about the cause, check out ReformPropertyTax.com and consider volunteering to gather signatures. Just know that while the goal is bold, the road ahead is murky. Stay tuned as this debate heats up!
Jon Hanson is a reporter for the Etna Times, covering local issues with a skeptical eye.
2 responses to “Ohio Group’s Bold Push to Repeal Property Taxes: A Game-Changer with Big Questions”
Eliminating property taxes would create a sense of urgency to deal with the unconstitutional way Ohio funds schools. I would welcome the opportunity to sign the petition, I have not had a child in public schools in over 50 years, enough is enough!!!!!
Makes sense, Mike.