Ohio Business Leaders Call for Property Tax Reform: Ending Unvoted Increases

A growing coalition of business leaders, backed by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, is urging state lawmakers to take action against a controversial practice in the state's property tax system: "unvoted" property tax increases.

These automatic increases—often tied to debt service or inflation-linked millage—are applied without direct voter approval, raising concerns among both commercial property owners and residential taxpayers across Ohio.

As property tax bills continue to climb and local government spending remains under scrutiny, the push for reform is gaining traction in the legislature.

What Are “Unvoted” Property Tax Increases?

In Ohio, property taxes can be raised through two main channels:

1. Voter-approved levies and millage increases—typically proposed by school districts or municipalities and decided at the ballot box.

2. Unvoted increases, which occur automatically due to pre-existing formulas, legislation, or bond repayment mechanisms.

   
   

The latter often goes unnoticed by taxpayers until bills arrive—prompting frustration and legal questions about transparency and accountability.

Why Businesses Are Pushing for Change

The reform group, supported by several statewide industry organizations, argues that:

• Unvoted tax hikes undermine taxpayer consent

• Unpredictable increases hurt commercial real estate investment

• Inflation-linked escalators unfairly burden businesses with fixed budgets

  
  

Commercial property owners, in particular, have seen their tax obligations rise significantly in recent years, even without new levies or local votes. This volatility makes it harder to plan long-term capital expenditures or expansion.

What the Coalition Is Proposing

While the group has not yet submitted formal legislation, it is calling for:

• A requirement that all future property tax increases receive voter approval

• A review of how millage adjustments are calculated and communicated

• Increased transparency in how local governments disclose and justify tax changes

  
  

The coalition believes these reforms would restore taxpayer trust and ensure property tax increases align with public intent.

What It Means for Ohio Businesses and CPAs

For business owners and tax professionals, this movement could impact:

• Annual property tax projections and budgeting

• Valuation disputes and appeals

• Local ballot monitoring and civic engagement

  
  

If enacted, reforms could reduce the number of surprise tax hikes and make Ohio’s property tax environment more business-friendly—though local governments warn this could reduce funding for essential services.

How Bizora Helps Navigate Local Tax Changes

At Bizora, we help business owners and CPA firms track evolving tax regulations and manage risk across state and local jurisdictions. Our platform supports:

• Real-time alerts for tax policy changes

• Budget planning for property tax exposure

• Advocacy tracking at the statehouse level

  
  

Whether you're a property investor, business owner, or tax advisor, we’ll help you stay informed and plan ahead.

Explore tax change forecasting, budget tools, and local compliance insights at bizora.ai.