Why Did My Property Tax Bill Go Up? Strongsville GOP Hosts Major Ohio Property Tax Town Hall

Property taxes have become one of the biggest issues facing Ohio homeowners.

Across Strongsville and across the state, families are opening their tax bills and asking the same question:
How did it get this high?

This is no longer a quiet concern. It is one of the most urgent taxpayer issues in Ohio.
In recent polling in Strongsville, more than 77% of residents said their property taxes are too high, while fewer than 5% said they are too low. That level of concern deserves more than slogans, talking points, and political spin. It deserves facts.

That is why Strongsville GOP is hosting:
Ohio’s Property Tax Crossroads: Relief, Reform, or Repeal?

Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Doors Open: 5:30 PM
Program Begins: 6:00 PM
Strongsville Recreation Center Community Room
18100 Royalton Road, Strongsville, OH 44136

This event is free and open to the public, registration is required.

Register here:
https://strongsvillegop.nucleuspages.com/events/ohio-property-tax-townhall?utm_source=sgop_blog

This will be an interactive town hall moderated by Strongsville GOP Chairman Shannon Burns, with ample opportunity for audience participation. Residents are encouraged to bring their questions, bring their neighbors, and share this event with others. Voters need to be informed on this critical topic before Ohio’s property tax debate reaches its next stage.

The evening will begin with a Strongsville GOP data presentation showing how Ohio property taxes have changed from the 1980s to today.

The numbers are striking.

Ohio’s statewide gross real and public utility property tax levy has grown from approximately $13.5 billion in 1985 to approximately $40.6 billion in 2025, after adjusting for inflation. That is not a two-year number. That is a single-year statewide levy figure.

Over that same period, Ohio’s population grew by only about 11%.

The basic point is clear: Ohio property taxes have not merely kept up with inflation or population. The property-tax-funded local government system has grown dramatically faster than both.

That growth has real consequences for homeowners, seniors, young families, renters, school districts, local governments, and every taxpayer who cares about the future of Ohio.

The debate has now reached a new level of urgency. A citizen-led petition effort to abolish Ohio property taxes has drawn major grassroots support and changed the statewide conversation. Supporters argue that the current system is broken and that homeowners should not have to keep paying the government forever just to remain in a home they already own. Opponents warn that full elimination without a replacement plan could create serious problems for schools, public safety, local governments, libraries, parks, and other services.

Strongsville GOP is bringing together some of the most important voices in this debate so voters can hear the arguments directly.

Brian Massie, founder of Ax Ohio Tax, is one of the leaders of the citizen effort to abolish Ohio property taxes. He will make the case for why the current system has failed taxpayers and why the repeal movement has gained so much grassroots momentum.

John T. Plecnik, Lake County Commissioner, has been a leading voice for property tax reform and taxpayer relief. He brings the perspective of a county official who understands both the pressure on homeowners and the realities of local government finance.  John is an outspoken advocate for the proposed ballot initiative that would abolish Ohio property taxes.

Greg R. Lawson of The Buckeye Institute, Ohio’s leading free-market policy organization, is one of the state’s most respected voices on tax reform. For nearly two decades, he has played a critical role in the effort to reform and reduce taxes in Ohio. Greg opposes the property tax abolition initiative, but he strongly believes Ohio needs serious structural reform to lower property taxes, restrain unvoted increases, improve transparency, and force government to operate more efficiently.

State Representative David Thomas also opposes the property tax abolition initiative, but no one in the Ohio House has been more aggressive in pushing property tax reform. Thomas has helped lead major legislative efforts to curb tax spikes, increase levy transparency, limit unvoted increases, expand the authority of county budget commissions to reduce unnecessary collections, and give taxpayers more control over the property taxes they pay.

That is what makes this town hall so important.
This is not a one-sided event. It is a serious discussion with leaders who agree that Ohio property taxes are a major problem, but who do not all agree on the solution.

The panel will address the questions voters are asking right now:
Why did property taxes rise so much?
How much of the increase is driven by school funding?
How much comes from local levies, state policy, and valuation increases?
What role did changes to state funding play?
What reforms are being considered in Columbus?
What would property tax repeal actually mean?
What happens to schools and local services if property taxes are eliminated?
What can be done now to provide real relief?
Audience participation will be a major part of the evening. Come prepared to ask questions. Submit questions in advance. Bring your neighbors. Share this event with your network.
Ohio voters need to understand this issue before they are asked to decide what comes next.
Whether you support repeal, oppose repeal, or are still trying to understand the issue, this town hall will give you the foundation you need.

Event: Ohio’s Property Tax Crossroads: Relief, Reform, or Repeal?
Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
Program Begins: 6:30 PM
Location: Strongsville Recreation Center Community Room, 18100 Royalton Road, Strongsville, OH 44136
Register:
https://strongsvillegop.nucleuspages.com/events/ohio-property-tax-townhall?utm_source=sgop_blog

Submit Your Property Tax Comments or Questions
This town hall is designed to answer the questions residents are actually asking.

Please submit your question in advance ([email protected]) about your property tax bill, home valuations, school funding, local levies, state funding, reform proposals, or the effort to abolish Ohio property taxes.  Questions will be grouped by topic so the panel can cover as many issues as possible during the event.

This will be an interactive discussion moderated by Strongsville GOP Chairman Shannon Burns, with ample opportunity for audience participation.

Bring your questions. Bring your neighbors. Share this event with your network so more voters can be informed on this critical topic.

Questions or comments?
Contact Shannon Burns
[email protected]
Personal Cell: 440-263-2915

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