Property tax exemption bill stalled in Columbus, Ohioans miss out on discounts

Editor's note:  A previous version of this story mischaracterized Representative McNally's position on expanding the Homestead exemption. McNally is supportive of expanding the exemption, but that provision was added in the Senate after the House had already voted. 

We've been reporting on how the increase in property values is affecting taxes in the Valley.

One attempt, House Bill 187, aimed at helping people over the age of 65 and disabled veterans catch a break from increased taxes, stalled in Columbus.

"The senate focused on enhancing the homestead exemption and they put different brackets in to bring it up to include more people for the homestead exemption," said Mahoning County Auditor Ralph Meacham.

The bill was also going to increase the amount of the exemption. The bill passed both houses, but legislators couldn't agree on a version to give the governor to sign.

"All these exemptions and enhancements never happened," said Meacham. "So what we're left with right now is the same homestead exemption that we've had for the last several years," he said.

Local state representative Lauren McNally voted "no" on the bill, which did not include the expansion of the Homestead exemption when it passed the House. 

McNally also said she's supportive of the overall intent of House Bill 187, but that a major overhaul right now could cause financial chaos for things like schools. 

"The bill is a good bill, it makes sense, it's something that needs to happen. The problem was the timing," said McNally. "The timing was going to create a lot of unintentional consequences for any entity that relies on real estate taxes to balance their budgets. It was going to delay payments to places like schools, libraries, anything that relies on that real estate tax they were going to have to come up with a way to pay their bills," she said

McNally said there have been several standalone bills in the House that would expand the Homestead exemption that she supports. 

Representative McNally continues, if they get started on a version of the bill that everyone can agree on, then they can plan to have it ready for the next cycle.