PERRYSBURG, Ohio -- A growing grassroots effort to eliminate property taxes in Ohio is gaining traction, with organizers pushing to place a constitutional amendment before voters in November.
The proposal, backed by the group "Ax the Tax Ohio," aims to abolish property taxes statewide. Supporters argue the measure would ease financial burdens on homeowners and address what they see as systemic inequities.
"Even after you've paid off your mortgage, you still don't own it because you're merely a renter from the government," co-founder Brian Massie said, criticizing recurring tax bills.
The group frames its campaign around broader concerns about affordability and fairness, asking on its website whether the "American dream" has become an illusion. It points to foreclosures, repeated tax levies and disparities in school funding based on location as key issues.
"There's no problem in the state generating revenue. What there is, is a spending problem," Massie said.
Organizers say the movement is nonpartisan and continues to build momentum, with regional volunteers gathering signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot.
"This is not Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Independent," Massie said. "This is something that affects everyone."
Still, education leaders warn the proposal could have far-reaching consequences.
Perrysburg Interim Superintendent Kadee Anstadt said while property tax reform may be necessary, eliminating the tax entirely could be catastrophic.
"We are one of the most highly taxed states as far as property goes, and we as citizens and even as a district are not reaping the results of that," Anstadt said.
She noted that since the COVID-19 pandemic, state funding for schools has declined, shifting more of the burden onto local taxpayers.
"The state sent us 46% of the funding. Now we're down to about 32%," Anstadt said. "So the state has kind of stepped away, and the burden has fallen to local property tax owners, so I get why they're fatigued."
Anstadt said targeted reforms could improve the system but warned that fully eliminating property taxes would undermine critical services.
"It would not just harm schools; it would destroy schools," she said. "But it's also your library system, mental health services, police, fire and EMS—all of those entities."
As the petition drive continues, the proposal is likely to spark broader debate over how Ohio funds education and essential public services.
Massie and other members of the "Ax the Tax Ohio" movement are set to announce how many signatures they have gathered so far next week.