LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Ohio Senate president Rob McColley spoke to the Allen County GOP on Friday as state property taxes have become a hot topic.
In the two-year biennial budget, Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed a measure prohibiting school districts and local governments from using replacement or emergency levies toward future funding requests. In late July, the Ohio House passed an override of that veto by a 61 to 28 vote while tabling two other property tax vetoes. Those two vetoes would allow county budget commissions to lower voter-approved levies if deemed excessive and change the 20-mill floor calculation for school districts.
McColley says the Senate is ready to override the first veto as well as the other two vetoes should the override pass in the house.
"The House overrode one of those vetoes; we know we have the votes to override that veto, and I believe the House might be looking to override two more of the property tax-related vetoes," said McColley. "If they can have a chance to get everybody in the chamber for it, we plan to override those vetoes as well."
Following the House override, Gov. DeWine assembled an 11-person property tax reform working group to find solutions and ease the property tax burden on Ohioans. The governor wants their report back to his office by September 30th. McColley says while he understands the governor's intentions, he fears people may get even more frustrated the longer the issue is up in the air.
"The Ohio General Assembly had a task force, a joint committee between both chambers, that reviewed this issue well over a year ago, started their work and issued a report - we've already studied this issue," said McColley. "We, as the legislature, are the ones who need to make these changes. We've spoken; we've put our thoughts on paper, and I worry that if we take even longer to study this issue, people are going to grow even more fed up."
The Senate will reconvene in September. They will also look at issues dealing with energy and seeking ways to utilize state oil and natural gas.
