Ohio is in the early stages of a major fight over property taxes. Thanks largely to rapidly rising home values, property taxes have jumped on average about 25鈥�30% in recent years. Homeowners are mad, especially those on fixed incomes who have no plans to move and cash in on their home鈥檚 equity.
As part of the state budget, lawmakers tried to tinker with the system in hopes of slowing or reversing the property tax increases. Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed those line items, and now lawmakers stand ready to override those vetoes.
A proposed constitutional amendment to completely eliminate property taxes looms.
A couple of state lawmakers have proposed capping property taxes at a relatively low percentage. And this week, DeWine formed a working group to find a solution.
This week, we dig a little deeper鈥攂ut not too deep鈥攊nto the complicated world of Ohio property taxes with our panel: Republican strategist Terry Casey, Sam Gresham of Common Cause Ohio, and statehouse reporters Jessie Balmert of the USA Today Ohio Network and Andrew Tobias of Signal Statewide.
Snollygoster of the week
Ohio lawmakers recently enacted a law that bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at state colleges and universities. It went into effect last month. Schools across the state have been eliminating diversity departments and programs, and scrubbing their websites of any DEI language.
Supporters say it will pave the way for more conservative ideas on campus. Opponents say it threatens academic freedom.
Well, Eastern Michigan University sees it as a marketing opportunity. It鈥檚 trying to lure Ohio students who may be upset by the new law. One ad said, 鈥淭ired of restrictions? Cross the border to opportunity. At EMU, we offer in-state tuition for Ohio residents.鈥�
EMU downplays the effort, saying it has offered in-state tuition to Ohio students for years, and that the 鈥淎ll Are Welcome鈥� campaign鈥攚hich celebrates diversity鈥攚as introduced in 2017.
That may be true, but calling special attention to Ohio鈥檚 anti-DEI efforts and the tuition break is pretty shrewd marketing.