The Tuscarawas County Public Library System will host A Conversation About Property Tax: What’s at Stake if Property Taxes Are Eliminated on Thursday, June 25th at 6:00 PM at its Main Library.
“Conversations continue across Ohio about proposals to eliminate property taxes,” said Library Director Michelle McMorrow Ramsell. “This discussion will provide an opportunity for the community to hear how property tax funding supports services like public safety, education, senior services, veteran services, townships, cities, fire and EMS services, libraries, parks, developmental disability services and mental health services.”
The Committee to Abolish Property Taxes, or Ax Ohio Tax, has sought signatures for a petition to place a state constitutional amendment on the ballot to remove property tax completely in Ohio. On June 5th, the Committee announced that it has not reached its goal of 620,000 signatures to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot. The group, however, announced that they will continue to solicit signatures and target the November 2027 election.
“There is no doubt that there are valid conversations to be had about property tax, but it is important for the community to consider if elimination property taxes is the right decision for Ohio,” said Ramsell. “The goal of the panel discussion is to talk about the impact abolishing property tax could have on our state’s credit and bond ratings, as well as the services that our friends and neighbors rely upon.”
Ramsell said that statewide concerns about abolishing property tax has led to a broad-based statewide coalition to form – Ohioans to Protect Public Services. Made up of both Republicans and Democrats, the coalition has representation from more than 75 organizations that include business and labor, healthcare providers, emergency medical personnel, parks, senior caregivers, and more.
State Representative Jodi Salvo assisted in bringing together a fourteen-person panel representing a cross-section of organizations and geographic areas of our county. Panelists include: Larry Lindberg, County Auditor; Greg Ress, Tuscarawas County Commissioner; Jodi Salvo, State Representative; Joel Day, New Philadelphia Mayor; Greg Didanato, Village of Dennison Mayor; John Fondreist, Dover Township Trustee; Natalie Bollon, ADAMHS Board of Tusc and Carroll Counties; Jamie Smith, Senior Centers of Tuscarawas County; Jason Thornton, Tuscarawas County Veteran Services; Amy Adam, Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities; Michelle McMorrow Ramsell, Tuscarawas County Public Library System; Randy Lucas, Educational Service Center Superintendent; Captain Adam Fisher, Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office; and Chief Jim Parrish, New Philadelphia Fire Department
Bob Scanlon will serve as moderator for the evening. The 75-minute panel discussion will begin promptly at 6:00pm. There will be time allotted for questions and answers at the end.
Anyone is welcome to attend the panel discussion, but space is limited and registration is required. Those interested in attending can register at the library’s online event calendar at www.tusclibrary.org or by calling 330-364-4474. The County’s Main Library is located at 121 Fair Ave NW in New Philadelphia.