Voters looking to learn more about upcoming ballot measures proposing property tax levy increases or renewals can find out how much voting for, or against, each measure will affect their taxes.
The Franklin County Auditor's Office is again making a tool available to help voters learn more about local and county-wide property tax levies and how they might affect taxes. The county's levy estimator allows property owners to input their address or parcel number, and find out exactly what they'll be voting on and how much their taxes could increase or decrease.
The tool isn't new and has been around for about a decade, according to Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano, but he says with 19 local levies and bond issues and one county-wide levy on the ballot this November, the tool can save voters some research, time and confusion at the ballot box.
"Any levy that is going to be in your taxing district will come up. So in my case, I only have the county-wide issue. It describes the ballot language that I would see on the ballot and what the estimated amount for passage would be, along with what I am currently paying under the current language," Stinziano said.
Stinziano said the COTA LinkUs sales tax levy is not part of this tool since it doesn't impact property taxes.
"Depending on your taxing district, which is a big part of how property taxes are calculated, you could see anywhere from one to three issues on your ballot. That's why the ballot levy estimates are such an important tool that we want people that are property owners that are going to be voting to understand what impact it can have," Stinziano said.
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Stinziano said his office will also be sending a mail notification to voters telling them to make sure to register to vote and know what is on their ballot.
"We don't want anyone to wait to get their property tax bill from the treasurer in January and ask questions of why did my taxes go up? There was an issue I could have been supporting or not supporting that's now going to impact our property tax bill," Stinziano said.
Stinziano said his office always receives questions about tax increases after the election.
"While we are always appreciative and take advantage of the opportunity to educate people, the process, waiting until January when that voter property owner can make a decision and have an impact in November. That's why this levy estimate is so important and that's why we're excited," Stinziano said. "We encourage every property owner voter to take the time, and not just be informed on the candidates on their ballot, but also on the levies and applications."
What property tax levies are on the ballot this November?
There are 20 property tax ballot questions, but many others measures that will appear on the ballot in Franklin County. The others include things like statewide Issue 1, LinkUs and almost two dozen votes on allowing Sunday and weekday sales of liquor and alcohol by various bars, breweries and stores.
The 20 property tax levies include:
- A Franklin County Children Services proposed levy.
- A Worthington proposed bond for constructing and equipping a swim facility.
- A Blendon Township police levy for unincorporated areas only.
- A Clinton Township police levy.
- A Franklin Township fire levy.
- A Hamilton Township road levy.
- A Perry Township police levy.
- A Plain Township fire levy.
- A Truro Township fire levy.
- A Bexley City School District levy.
- A Grandview Heights City School District proposed bond issue.
- A Groveport Madison Local School District proposed bond issue.
- A Hilliard City School District proposed bond issue and tax levy.
- A Madison-Plains Local School District proposed bond issue and tax levy.
- A New Albany-Plain Local School District proposed bond issue.
- A Plain City Public Library proposed tax levy.
- A Reynoldsburg City School District proposed tax levy.
- A Southwest Public Libraries proposed tax levy.
- A Westerville Public Library proposed tax levy.
- A Westerville City School District proposed bond issue and tax levy.
All the ballot issues can be found at the Franklin County Board of Elections website.
