Current Ohio levy questions safe, future options limited after veto override

By J.D. Davidson
The Center Square 

Voters across Ohio will still vote on several school district levy options in November, but it will be the last time.

Following a Senate override of Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto, levy options are now restricted, eliminating replacement levies, fixed-sum emergency levies, substitute emergency levies and combined levies.

The Senate override, which came more than three months after the House cleared the override threshold by two votes, is a split between the Republican-controlled General Assembly and DeWine, also a Republican.

The Senate also passed the override by a two-vote difference – 21-11, with all Republicans voting to override and no Democrats. Two Republicans, Sens. Bill Blessing, R-Colerain Township, and Tom Patton, R-Strongsville, also voted against the measure.

GOP lawmakers and business groups called the move a win for property owners clamoring for years for property tax relief.

"Today's veto override is the first step in accomplishing more reforms passed by the General Assembly, and it also paves the way for future legislation," Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, said in a statement. "Ohioans have made it clear property taxes are out of control. They're right. We heard you. We acted to rein in a system that has been leveraged against taxpayers by allowing runaway increases without a vote of the people."

Ohio Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Steve Stivers said the new law gives voters clarity and more control.

“We applaud the Ohio Senate for finalizing this override and taking an important first step toward property tax relief by removing confusing and misleading levies from future ballots,” Stivers said in a statement. "This particular measure helps demystify the levy process and strengthens the voters’ understanding and control over local property tax decisions."

DeWine, in his veto message over the summer, said the changes could create serious financial problems for school districts across the state.

Senate Democrats agreed, saying the override limits options for communities to decide how they want to fund services.

“The majority’s vote will significantly alter how communities fund critical local services like schools, libraries, and mental health boards,” Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson, D-Toledo, said in a statement. “And is another example of overreach – limiting local control and undermining voter-approved funding mechanisms.”