Two-day petition signing event in Youngstown aiming to abolish property taxes
YOUNGSTOWN A two-day petition signing event held in Youngstown is attempting to get a property tax abolishment initiative on the 2026 ballot.
The event held its first round of signing on Friday, November 14, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cornersburg Sparkle Market, located at 3623 South Meridian Avenue.
The second day of signing will follow on Saturday, November 15, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well.
The Committee to Abolish Ohio Property Taxes, or "Axe the Tax", hosted the event.
Denise DiFabio, a grassroots activist with "Axe the Tax", told 21 News that the organization plans to collect signatures throughout the year up through the summer of 2026.
Despite tax levies passing in communities throughout the Valley during the recent November 4 general election, DiFabio says that there is a growing movement to abolish property taxes throughout the state.
"It needs to be structured, these taxes more fairly instead of being tied to the perceived value of your property. You shouldn't be paying more and more because your home's value is inflated," said DiFabio.
DiFabio mentioned an issue ongoing within the population of aging homeowners who are seeing property tax amounts that they cannot afford and are forced to sell their homes.
"I've had people come to me from Lake Milton, they are really hurting. One guy pays $130,000 a year for the acreage he has on Lake Milton. It just keeps going up," said DiFabio.
DiFabio also commented on the possibility of using alternative taxes to fund other necessities, such as police and schools, if property taxes were abolished.
"They could tax you through income or through sales. And I think sales tax is more fair, and then you can control what you buy and what you spend. And, you're never going to pay as much in sales tax - I don't think - as you're paying in these property taxes year after year," said DiFabio.
Those looking to learn more about this initiative can visit the "Axe the Tax" website.
