As Governor Mike DeWine’s Property Tax Reform Working Group begins its work, The Buckeye Institute has proposed 10 recommendations to reform local government and reduce property taxes in Ohio.
Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, stated, “Ohioans fearful of losing their homes are demanding reform and threatening a constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes altogether.” He emphasized the need for “tough choices” to avoid drastic measures and offered the working group a roadmap for reform that maintains essential services.
The Buckeye Institute suggests several policy solutions: requiring county approval for most tax levies before they appear on ballots; giving budget commissions authority to lower tax rates when excess funds are collected; modifying the 20-mill floor for school districts; capping inside millage growth; linking state funding to performance metrics; consolidating local government entities; enhancing transparency through Ohio Checkbook participation; eliminating tax abatements that burden families and businesses; directing state funds to critical needs; and sharing resources with communities needing support.
Further details can be found at BuckeyeInstitute.org/LocalGovReform or in their publications: Local Government Reform Necessary to Lower Property Taxes (2025), Sustainable Ohio: How to Fund Ohio’s Cities in the 21st Century (2022), Local Government Funding Reform: Cost-Saving Alternatives to State Revenue Sharing (2019), and Joining Forces (2011).
