Ohio
Ohio’s squirrel tax of 1807 relevant to today’s property tax debate
Voters sound off on proposed property tax reform (1)
Franklin County voters sound off on proposed property tax reform with Dispatch reporter Sheridan Hendrix
Ohio once had a squirrel tax. No kidding.
The legislature made a quota for every property owner. To reduce the out of control squirrel population in 1807, Ohio would exempt your property tax bill for every squirrel skin one provided as proof of squirrel population reduction.
Ohio has an agricultural value reduction program to reduce property tax on land used for agriculture. Manufacturing equipment is automatically exempt from sales and use tax.
Thus, the pattern has been clear for 220 years: Tax what you don’t want. Exempt what you do.
Taxes can be both counterproductive and counter intuitive.
ONE THOUGHT: Tax what you don’t want
Taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis are “sin” taxes designed to generate revenue on things that government wishes to discourage.
Ohio’s 1807 squirrel tax is a shining example. Bring us your squirrel skins or pay more tax.
Arguably, some local places in Ohio have purposely taxed themselves more in order to keep certain real estate investments out.
SECOND THOUGHT: Exempt what you do want
Exemptions for job-creating globally-competitive capital investment just makes sense.
Ohio automatically reduces property taxes on agriculture land and has for decades. It’s called CAUV. Tax farmland more? You’ll get less farmland.
Trade this year’s revenue for a longer-term future of more revenue is the biggest point with local property tax exemption authority.
Trade incremental property tax one year for greater income tax now and in the future.
THIRD THOUGHT: Watching the great tax debate in Ohio
Though action has been taken from the Ohio General Assembly, there could be more to come in the debate sparked by rising property taxes. And it’s not just property taxes in play. Talk about redirecting local income taxes, removing sales tax exemptions, and curbing real estate tax diversions are among the items open for debate. Should an over $20 billion hole emerge in Ohio’s collective state and local tax portfolio from a possible statewide referendum, there’s nothing off the table.
That’s why the principle from 1807 is key to remember.
Tax what you don’t want. Exempt what you do.
By the way, that Ohio squirrel tax had to be repealed in 1808, because it worked. The squirrel population was decimated and taxpayers were afraid they couldn’t gather enough squirrel skins to avoid the tax.
Rick Platt is President and CEO of the Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority with over three decades of experience in Ohio industrial development. He is a board member of JobsOhio.
Bob Chesney has done a good job at recruiting players from the 2027 high school class.
The 2027 class is Chesney’s first real recruiting class and has so far brought in one of the best in the country, ranking eighth according to 247Sports.
With 19 total commits, Chesney has brought in seven 4-star recruits, with 12 being 3-star, and some being borderline 4-star-caliber recruits who can see a rise in their rankings with a good senior season.
While Chesney has done a good job recruiting players on both the offense and defense, the quarterback has eluded him, and he is still searching for a top quarterback prospect to commit to the Bruins.
Luckily for the Bruins, they have had some success in recruiting top players. Recently, the Bruins will get a visit from Colton Nussmeier this weekend, and are now linked to one of the top committed prospects in Brady Edmunds.
Edmunds As a Prospect
Edmunds is a 4-star prospect and, according to 247Sports, the 16th-ranked quarterback and the 17th-ranked player in the state of California.
247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins describes the 6’5 “quarterback as an experienced pocket passer with a prototypical build that can drive the ball around the field. Edmunds is also capable of escaping from the pocket to pick up a first down with his legs, and is even compared to Tyler Van Dyke from SMU.
Coming from Huntington Beach, California, during his junior season, he led Huntington Beach to an 8-3 record while throwing for 2,724 yards, 32 TDs, and only two INTs on 196-for-288 passing. He also ran the ball 54 times for 147 yards and four TDs.
Ivins does think that while he is very talented, he might need a year to sit behind an experienced quarterback to learn the speed and physicality of the game. If he were to commit to UCLA, he would already have that covered, as Nico Iamaleava would have one more year of eligibility after next season.
Edmunds and UCLA
Edmunds has been off the market since 2024, when he committed to Ohio State under Chip Kelly. Since Kelley’s departure after the Buckeyes championship season, Edmunds has kept his recruitment open while still committed to Ohio State.
UCLA first offered him back in early 2024, when Deshaun Foster was the head coach, and, with Chesney as the new head coach, he has been active in Edmunds’ recruitment.
If Chesney is able to steal away a top quarterback prospect from an elite school within the same conference, it would be a massive win for the program.
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The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 30, 2026, results for each game:
Powerball
Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.
01-27-35-44-52, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 1-0-6
Evening: 8-4-1
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 8-4-4-8
Evening: 8-4-2-0
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.
Midday: 7-0-6-0-4
Evening: 3-0-1-8-1
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Rolling Cash 5
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.
06-23-27-28-29
Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Classic Lotto
Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, at approximately 7:05 p.m.
05-11-35-37-41-46, Kicker: 9-7-8-4-0-1
Check Classic Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 11:15 p.m.
05-14-22-28-30, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.
STRYKER, Ohio (WKRC) – An Ohio woman allegedly broke into her ex-husband’s home while he was sleeping and threatened to kill him before opening fire.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime, 31-year-old Amanda Heller broke into a man’s home on April 26. The man was identified as Heller’s ex-husband by local outlet WTOL.
After the victim woke up, Heller allegedly threatened to kill him before taking out a handgun and firing twice.
No injuries were reported in connection to the shooting, Law&Crime reported. Nobody else was in the home at the time of the incident, authorities reported.
Heller was arrested and charged with felonious assault, attempted aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, domestic violence, and improperly discharging a weapon at or into a habitation or school.
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