LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Allen County commissioners took questions from Lima Rotarians on Monday as they delivered their annual State of the County address.
Commissioners Brian Winegardner and Cory Noonan updated attendees on several ongoing county projects, including the administration building and the Child Support Enforcement Agency, before opening the floor for questions.
Discussion topics included the future of Memorial Hall, the former Savings and Loan building, and property taxes. Noonan addressed how newly passed state legislation could impact property taxes, while Winegardner explained why the county is working with the Allen County Port Authority on Memorial Hall and other county-owned properties in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code.
Brian Winegarner Allen County Commissioner "That way we could work with them, and they can come up with opportunities that even the private sector. So that's that's one benefit we have with the Port Authority, was is working with them through through the high Revised Code, of course, and they have better opportunities than what we would just by auctioning off the building."
Cory Noonan Allen County Commissioner "The legislation that they have passed, and the governor has has signed into law, and the impacts that's going to have in the second half taxes, our county treasurer, our county auditor, are working, you know, to get the message out to property owners in Allen County to hold off on paying their second half taxes. Doing that the second half because of the legislation and what impact that has."
Last December, the governor signed five tax relief bills that take effect in March. The legislation is expected to save property owners statewide about $3 billion. Both Noonan and Winegardner said they believe reforming property taxes is a better approach than repealing them altogether.
