Regain Control: Stop the Squeeze

The average property valuation in Portage County has risen between 33%-37%. Unlike other forms of taxation, property taxes are levied based on speculative property valuations rather than actual market transactions.  This system unfairly burdens homeowners by taxing us on inflated assessments-values that may never actually be realized.  Some might call this 'unrealized gains'. 

True homeownership is an illusion—we are essentially renting from the government. Rising property taxes aren’t just draining your wallet; they’re forcing homeowners into foreclosure—even those who’ve paid off their mortgages. You risk losing your home because a broken system demands more. It’s time we repair this system.  We need for a balanced approach that reflects current market conditions while ensuring residents, particularly those on fixed incomes, are not unduly burdened. The property tax system can be complex and difficult for taxpayers to understand, leading to calls for greater transparency and simplification.

Our goal is to get signatures collected to get the amendment on the ballot in 2026. This citizen-led initiative isn’t pretending to solve every problem in one stroke. What it is about is restoring the principle of true homeownership—where you can’t lose your house just because you can’t afford to rent it back from the government every year.

Let this be the beginning of a thoughtful conversation, not a campaign of fear. It's time we stop the hysteria and start looking at what’s possible. 

Many ask about school funding.  Schools will not shut down. However, schools will undergo a shift in where they get funding. Unfortunately, on average 70% of property taxes go to local schools. Additionally, this funding is not balanced between high-income and low-income districts. The DeRolph V. State of Ohio case  exposes this concern. The Ohio Legislature continues to try to balance funding across all districts further complicating school funding. Currently, the plan to balance funding has been called unsustainable. This is our opportunity as Ohioans to bring stability to school funding.

What about essential services? We are NOT for defunding essential services, but re-funding them in a more equitable way.  We support and celebrate our essential services.  The goal is for all essential services to be funded in a balanced and transparent way. More information on this can be found on our Youtube channel and AxOhTax.com.

The Portager reports that Portage County ranks near the bottom in Ohio for housing affordability. According to their summary of U.S. Census Bureau and HUD data:

• 46.9% of renters in Portage County spend 35% or more of their income on housing.
   
• An additional 6.7% spend between 30% and 34.9% of their income on housing en.wikipedia.org+7theportager.com+7en.wikipedia.org+7.
   

To put that in perspective: HUD considers housing unaffordable if a household pays more than 30% of income on housing costs. By that standard, nearly 53.6% of Portage County renters—over half—are either cost-burdened (30–34.9%) or severely cost-burdened (35% or more) . That places Portage County among the worst counties in Ohio for housing cost burden.