Rep. Dell'Aquila Urges Swift Action to Protect Fixed Income Seniors as Property Taxes Will Soon Rise

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Dell’Aquila (D-Seven Hills) today urges swift action to protect fixed income seniors as property taxes will soon rise. Rep. Dell’Aquila has introduced House Bill (HB) 274, jointly with Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) – a bipartisan bill to alleviate these costs for long-term homeowners – but neither HB 274 nor any of the multiple homestead exemption bills have been passed into law to date.  

“Having served for several years as mayor of one of our demographically oldest communities, I know firsthand the serious difficulties confronting some of our seniors and disabled--some literally having to choose between paying property taxes or covering basic living expenses,” said Rep. Dell’Aquila.  “Now, as time is drawing near to act, the legislature has yet to pass meaningful legislation to protect these homeowners from looming re-appraisals.”

As part of the state’s six-year property reappraisal initiative, Northeast Ohio residents could face a considerable raise in property taxes, impacting roughly 353K single-family homes across 59 cities in Cuyahoga County.

“While the steps the Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform Committee have taken to establish a holistic and statewide approach are encouraging, it is important to recognize that with each passing day, qualifying homeowners--people who raised their families in the communities they built and where they have paid years of property taxes--are running out of time,” said Rep. Dell’Aquila.

HB 274 would establish an enhanced Homestead Exemption for certain long-term homeowners who qualify for the general Homestead Exemption and have occupied their home for 20 or more consecutive years. This bill will benefit an estimated 461,450 Ohio homeowners who would qualify for the enhanced reduction.