Ohio House Passes Bill to 'Flip the Script' on Property Valuations

The Ohio House of Representatives recently passed “Flip the Script” legislation sponsored by State Representatives David Thomas (R-Jefferson) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Twp.). House Bill 124 reforms how the process of valuing property in Ohio is completed during revaluation cycles, which occurs every three years to assess the current fair market value of a property. 

House Bill 124 empowers county auditors to have the final say on the housing sales data used to track the market and determine new property values. “Flip the Script” puts county auditors in charge of the sales used to determine valuation modifications and puts the burden to challenge sales on the Department of Taxation, rather than the other way around. Under current law, the Ohio Department of Taxation uses their sales data to order counties to change by certain amounts first and then county auditors can appeal that data. 

“HB 124 emphasizes local input, ensuring those closest to the community have the final say in which home sales are considered during the property reappraisal process,” said Rep. Thomas.

“House Bill 124 will empower county auditors—the local experts—to ensure fair property valuations,” said Hall. “This legislation is a commonsense step towards improving Ohio’s property tax system and protecting home and property owners.”

More specifically, the bill:

• Allows the Department of Taxation to file an appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals (BTA) challenging the property sales included or excluded in the sample.
• Requires the BTA to issue a decision on an appeal by the end of the tax year in which it was filed.
• Moves the deadline for county auditors to submit the abstract to the Board of Revision (BOR) from the second Monday of June to the second Monday of May.
• Applies to Triennial Update and Sexennial Reappraisal.

House Bill 124 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.