McNally voices opposition after Ohio Ballot Board certifies proposal to end property tax in Ohio

Ohio State Representative Lauren McNally has voiced opposition after the Ohio Ballot Board certified a proposal to end property taxes in the State of Ohio.

In a statement released to media outlets on Thursday, McNally conceded that Ohioans deserve meaningful property tax relief, but said the proposal could jeopardize funding for schools, public safety and other local services.

"I'm as mad as Ohio citizens are at the state legislature for not doing its job and passing any of the numerous suggested bills that would offer relief, but this would create the kind of chaos that we as a state could never recover from," McNally said.

According to a press release, property taxes make up a majority of Ohio public schools' budgets and over 60% of all property taxes.

The petition, which now needs 460,000 signatures from 44 of Ohio's 88 counties to get on the ballot aims to abolish property taxes for Ohio. Proponents of the idea suggest a sales tax or income tax to continue to fund the services currently funded by property taxes.

McNally suggested other ideas to give Ohioans property tax relief without abolishing it.

"A property tax circuit breaker would give working Ohioans a $1,000 rebate to help them afford their property tax bills. Increasing the homestead exemption, as proposed by Democrats for over a decade, would keep more seniors on fixed income in their homes," says a press release from McNally's office.

You can read much more about the proposal to end property taxes in Ohio and what proponents have to say about it in our related coverage below.

RELATED COVERAGE:

Citizens group aims to eliminate property taxes in Ohio