Ohio Property Tax Reform & Its Impact on EMS & Fire Services
What Your Community Needs to Know
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OHIO?
A grassroots group, Citizens for Property Tax Reform, is gathering signatures to put a constitutional amendment to vote in November 2026. They want to fully eliminate property taxes. While homeowners would welcome the relief, there are major concerns. EMS & Fire departments rely heavily on property taxes and could lose 60-70% of revenue if taxes are fully eliminated.
HOW COULD THIS AFFECT YOURs LOCAL DEPARTMENTS?
Eliminating property taxes without a replacement funding source could:
- Reduce staffing due to the lack of sustainable operating funds
- Increase response times as departments cut shifts or delay vehicle maintenance.
- Close stations altogether
- Increase risk to community safety, & more.
COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS TO KEEP SERVICES STRONG
- Hard billing for ALL consumers
- No grace given for residents of your community
- EMS membership or subscription programs
- Annual fee covers emergencies
- Higher business inspection and compliance fees
- Pursuing grants and interagency partnerships to leverage additional funding, & more.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
- Bill Tracker: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/search?generalAssembly=136
- Contact your local House and Senate representative: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/members/district-maps
- Enter your address and click on the respective Legislative Representative (House or Senate) you’d like to contact. This will take you to their specific webpage, where, at the top, you can click “Contact” to be directed to draft an email to send directly to them!
- Educate those in your sphere/community
If you have additional questions or want to further the conversation, please reach out to us at 330-874-1140. We’re here to help and navigate this together!
