The following is a press release from the Mechanicsburg Exempted Village School District:
“Ohio families are paying more in property taxes than ever before. Seniors worry about staying in their homes. Families wonder how to make ends meet.
The truth is simple: property taxes feel out of control because they are. Ohio taxpayers have the 8th-highest property taxes in the country. But it isn’t because schools are mismanaging their funds. It’s decades of state tax policy that have systematically shifted the burden away from businesses and the state, and onto homeowners.
In 1991, Ohio homeowners paid 47% of school property taxes. Today, it’s nearly 70%. According to a report from the Ohio Auditor of State, state revenues for education have actually declined after inflation since 2000, and per-pupil funding has increased by only 6% over 22 years. Meanwhile, schools have consolidated, shared services, and stretched every dollar.
Strong schools are the foundation of strong communities, but the funding system weakens both. In many communities, schools are also the largest local employer, so cuts don’t just weaken classrooms; they hurt the local economy.
So what is at stake with the current proposed property tax legislation? Schools: Teachers, programs, safe buildings. Communities: Police, fire, EMS, libraries, parks. Without responsible property tax reform, families pay more, and local services risk being cut.
HB 186 would cost Mechanicsburg Exempted Village Schools $1.4 million over 3 years, and it would limit future increases. $1.4 million is the equivalent of 15-17 staff members, which would directly impact classrooms, programs, services, and safety. HB 129 would cost the district $189,000 annually. Basically, it nullifies the recent emergency levy approved by voters in our community.
It’s time for balanced reform. Families deserve relief, but communities also need strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and reliable local services. The balance is broken, but Ohio lawmakers can fix it.
We urge community members to talk to their legislators and share this message:
Reform must be balanced. Funding for local services and public schools hasn’t always been this way. The burden should not and cannot fall solely on families. It’s time for Ohio’s lawmakers to implement a balanced funding system that protects what matters most.”
