Mahoning County Commissioners discuss tax exemption

Ohio House Bill 96: Potential Impacts on Property Tax Exemptions

House Bill 96, which was approved last year, enables county commissioners in Ohio to double tax exemptions for homeowners and reduce taxes for those who occupy their homes. This change means that eligible homeowners could see a significant reduction in their property tax bills.

On Thursday, the Mahoning County Commissioners discussed the implications of this bill. While they support the idea of exempting seniors from property taxes, there are concerns about its effects on organizations that rely heavily on property tax revenue to function.

“It feels like they’re pushing us toward a crisis,” commented Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti. He expressed that while the intention is to assist seniors and veterans, the potential budget cuts could negatively affect critical services across the state funded by property taxes.

This includes vital areas like schools and emergency services. The financial repercussions for educational institutions in the county could be particularly noteworthy.

County Auditor Ralph Meacham highlighted specific impacts, noting that Austintown Schools could lose about $1 million, while Board members might see a reduction of around $1.3 million. Other districts, like Canfield and Poland, are also expected to face noticeable cuts.

In contrast, the commissioners of Trumbull County seem more optimistic about the bill, believing that larger companies, such as Amazon and Kimberly-Clark, may help offset potential tax revenue losses. Mahoning County, however, has not experienced similar growth.

“Ultimately, we will be the ones managing these changes, and the ones who will suffer are the kids and essential programs, particularly in developmental disabilities and mental health,” said County Commissioner Carol Rimedio Righetti.

There’s a rising worry from Commissioner Gino DeFabio as well. He noted that with recent state income tax reductions, the overall funding available from Columbus might diminish, complicating financial support across the board.