Property owners are being buried by taxes. Cash-strapped should be able to delay payments.

Michael Stinziano is Franklin County auditor.

The challenge for many Franklin County residents impacted by the burden of Ohio’s current laws in how property taxes are established remains. Some of our neighbors are even left in the impossible position of wondering how they can remain in the neighborhoods they desire to live in unless Ohio laws are changed.

The Franklin County auditor’s office continues to advocate to our state lawmakers on legislation that could help modernize current laws and also provide options that would provide impactful property tax relief.

First, we should modernize existing options that help homeowners.

The Homestead Exemption allows older and disabled homeowners with incomes of less than $36,100 to exempt $26,200 of home value from being taxed.

We should increase the amount of value exempted and increase the income threshold to help more homeowners. We can also increase the owner-occupied credit to provide real tax relief for homeowners who live in their homes.

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In addition, there are several pieces of legislation I support that can help overburdened property owners.

Legislation is the key to taxes that work for the people

I support Senate Bill 244 and the creation of resident stability zones, which use our existing abatement system to exempt property value increases based on need rather than just development. The bill would protect low-to-moderate income homeowners from future value spikes.

I also support legislation that would create property tax circuit breakers, such as Senate Bill 271, which would provide a refundable tax credit if property taxes exceeded a defined portion of income.

For years, I have supported legislation to cap property tax increases at a specific percentage, to prevent sudden large changes in taxes. Those bills have languished at the Statehouse.

The "Stinziano solution"

I support a “Stinziano solution,” a property tax deferral program like those that currently exist in many states, which allows eligible homeowners to delay, but not avoid, paying property taxes if they can’t afford to at that very moment.

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These proposals would help overburdened homeowners at this time of ongoing growth occurring while our housing values are increasing to historic highs.

If I could enact these proposals on my own, I would, but we need the legislature to act on them.

I am asking Franklin County residents to contact their state legislators and direct them to act on these solutions. I urge you to reach out and let them know you support these changes.

That’s the only way these fixes become reality

Michael Stinziano is Franklin County auditor.