There's going to be a mass exodus of homeowners because of property taxes | Opinion

Last week, I had the privilege of sending checks totaling $19,092.53 to Hamilton County for property taxes. Six months ago in June of 2023, the same property taxes were $10,655.01. That’s a 79% increase. All of the figures published by the Ohio Tax Commissioner, the Hamilton County Auditor, and the papers have stated an increase of 10%-30%. The question − what gives?

To quote our county auditor, Brigid Kelly, in a letter sent out earlier last year, "Lexur Appraisal Services, an experienced appraisal firm, under contract and in conjunction with the county auditor, viewed and appraised property in Hamilton County." I don’t know what they charged, but I have my doubts about them physically viewing all 350,000 parcels of property. For instance, we have a parking lot that is divided into three parcels. One parcel is 14 feet by 76.6 feet. The parcel was valued before at $31,930. The new valuation is $93,430. My 12 years of school tells me that’s a 200% increase. Also, the three parking lot parcels show that besides the land, there are buildings totaling $4,450.

It’s a parking lot − there are no buildings. If the lot had been viewed, that should be obvious.

Another thing that has bothered me for years is that on the left side of your tax bill is an item that says current assessment. Last year, I and several friends called the treasurer’s office to ask what this clandestine charge was for, and we were told to call the auditor’s office. And guess what? The auditor’s office said they were not sure what it was for, but we should call the treasurer’s office. This little secret cost us $493.50, spread across our eight tax bills.

When I called someone to help us fight these reevaluation amounts, the price was $15,000 up front and possibly more. How would this benefit us?

Our city property has been in our family since 1931 and our home has been in our family since 1945. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be considering selling and moving because of property taxes being out of reach. The state, the city and the county need to get together on this problem, or there is going to be a mass exodus of business, moving or closing, and people losing the homes that they, including my family, have worked to maintain, and be good citizens of the communities in which they work and live. This is a total confiscation!

Dave Suder, along with his wife Sharon, own Suder’s Art Store in Over-the-Rhine and live in Colerain Township.