County auditors from across northeast Ohio are advocating for legislative changes to alleviate the rising property tax burden on homeowners.

Mahoning County Auditor Ralph Meacham, president of the Northeast District of the County Auditors Association of Ohio (CAAO), announced a property tax relief briefing scheduled for April 4 at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown. This briefing, part of a statewide series, aims to address the growing concern over escalating property tax bills.

"County Auditors are the face of property taxes and we have worked together to create legislative proposals that would provide real relief to those who need it most," Meacham said in a news release.

The CAAO's proposals, presented to the Ohio General Assembly's Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform, include expanding the Homestead Exemption and Owner Occupancy Credit, limiting school levy growth, and creating targeted relief options.

The CAAO briefing will feature presentations by Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith, Lorain County Auditor Craig Snodgrass, and Lake County Auditor Chris Galloway. Members of the Ohio General Assembly have been invited to attend, and the briefing will also be accessible via a non-interactive Zoom meeting.

Plans for the session come a month after Sen. O'Brien, R-Ashtabula, introduced Senate Bill 66, which seeks to modify the calculation of a school district’s 20-mill floor. O'Brien argues that Ohio's property tax burden, ranked 11th highest nationally in 2022, has been exacerbated by recent property valuation increases.

"Ohioans have some of the largest property tax bills in the nation, and we have a mandate from the voters to do something about it," O'Brien said in a news release.

Senate Bill 66, now referred to a Senate committee, proposes to include emergency levies, substitute levies, all inside millage, and school district income taxes in the calculation of a school district’s effective millage floor. O'Brien's office estimates the bill could save Ohio property owners nearly $300 million over the next three years.