Ohio
Property tax elimination effort gains momentum in Ohio as auditors propose alternatives
CINCINNATI — A grassroots group and Ohio House lawmakers are pushing to overhaul the state’s property tax system, which many homeowners say has become increasingly burdensome. However, county auditors are warning that eliminating property taxes without a clear alternative could jeopardize essential local services.
For homeowners like Beth Blackmarr, who works with Citizens for Property Tax Reform based in Cuyahoga County, the current system has become unsustainable.
“It just got to be too much,” Blackmarr told WCPO. “We can’t have senior citizens pushed out of their homes that are paid for that they’ve been in for thirty and forty years, and they can’t afford the property tax on them.”
This citizens’ group is working to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would eliminate property taxes in Ohio. They need to collect more than 413,000 valid signatures across at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties.
While state lawmakers have introduced House Bill 335, which aims to limit how much money local governments and school districts can receive from rising property values, Blackmarr said the group took action after seeing legislative efforts stall repeatedly.
“They had 40 bills last year, none of which made it across the finish line for one reason or another,” Blackmarr said. “And so, at the beginning of this year, we said if they’re not going to do anything, I guess we’re going to have to do something for ourselves.”
County auditors, who are on the front lines of the property tax system, believe there are better solutions than outright doing away with property taxes. Butler County Auditor Nancy Nix expressed concerns about the potential consequences.
WATCH: County auditors’ alternative solutions to eliminating property tax or House Bill 335 below
Property tax elimination effort gains momentum in Ohio as auditors propose alternatives
“I just wouldn’t want to live in a community that didn’t have local government funding, and that’s what we’re risking if we do eliminate local property taxes,” Nix said. “But at the same time, we are totally empathetic; we are the ones receiving the calls from our taxpayers who can’t afford their tax bills.”
The County Auditors’ Association of Ohio has proposed alternative solutions, including creating what they call a “menu of targeted tax relief,” increasing property tax exemptions for seniors and eliminating the state-imposed cap on tax rate reductions.
Blackmarr said that while public education is constitutionally guaranteed, the funding mechanism needs to change if it continues to burden homeowners.
“Public school is guaranteed to us by the Constitution; we just have to get another way to pay for it that’s not so heavily dependent upon homeowners,” she said.
Nix urged lawmakers to carefully consider the auditors’ proposals.
“These are very complicated issues — the funding, all the agencies, the calculations, the 20-mill floor. I just hope that they will strongly consider our proposals,” Nix said.
If the ballot measure succeeds and voters choose to eliminate property taxes without an alternative solution from state lawmakers, sales and income taxes would likely increase to make up for the lost revenue.
Why artists are dropping out of the Great American State Fair
Musicians cancel appearances at the Great American State Fair after questions over Freedom 250 and claims the July Fourth event is nonpartisan.
As several states pull out of the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., questions are coming up closer to home — Is Ohio still participating?
Massachusetts and North Carolina won’t participate in the fair, according to USA TODAY. Reports also indicate that Connecticut, Illinois, Maine and Oregon are also expected to skip the event, with some states citing a combination of financial and political concerns as reasons for opting out.
Here’s what we know about Ohio’s role in the event so far.
Is Ohio skipping the 2026 Great American State Fair?
Ohio has confirmed its participation with a booth titled “Ohio: The Heart of it All,” which showcases state parks and childhood development. The governor’s office began the planning process for the booth in February, shortly after the Great American State Fair was announced, said Lisa Peterson director of communications in the governor’s office.
The Great American State Fair, organized by Freedom 250, is a 16-day exposition that will be displayed on the National Mall from June 25 to July 10.
Additionally, Ohio will host a stop from the “Freedom Truck,” a traveling exhibit tied to Freedom 250. The exhibit will appear at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus. Organizers describe the Freedom Truck as a mobile museum that visits existing fairs and community events, not a version of the Great American State Fair itself.
When does the ‘Freedom Truck’ stop in Ohio?
The Freedom Truck is scheduled to be at the Ohio State Fair from July 27 through Aug. 10, 2026 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.
The exhibit includes interactive and historical exhibits about the founding of the United States, according to organizers.
The mobile museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends, with the final day closing at 6 p.m.
What is the Great American State Fair?
The Great American State Fair is a 16-day event planned for June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Organized by Freedom 250, the fair is part of a broader effort to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary with state exhibits, food, entertainment and cultural programming, according to USA TODAY.
President Donald Trump announced he will headline the Freedom 250‑organized Great American State Fair and hold an “America Is Back” rally, the publication reports.
America250 vs. Freedom 250: What’s the difference?
The Great American State Fair is part of Freedom 250, a Trump-backed initiative to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary.
That effort is different from America250, the official, congressionally-authorized program coordinating nationwide commemorations. Meanwhile, America 250‑Ohio, the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial, is the official state-level partner to the national America250 effort.
The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 23, 2026, results for each game:
Mega Millions
Mega Millions drawings take place every week on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.
48-51-60-63-66, Mega Ball: 20
Check Mega Millions 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: 8-8-0
Evening: 2-0-5
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: 7-2-9-0
Evening: 1-6-9-3
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: 2-9-2-5-7
Evening: 2-8-6-4-9
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.
03-09-22-37-39
Check Rolling Cash 5 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.
TEMPE, AZ – JANUARY 02: Head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes holds the football from the trophy after the Buckeyes defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium on January 2, 2006 in Tempe, Arizona. The Buckeyes defeated the Fighting Irish 34-20. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
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