Lehner Announces 100%, $450,000 Real Estate Fee Cut for Ross County Subdivisions

Article Presented By Rathkamp Financial…

(Chillicothe)- Ross County Auditor Jeff Lehner has announced that the Auditor’s office will waive approximately $450,000 in real estate fees as part of Ross County’s second half 2025 property tax levy distribution. This follows similar actions in 2023 and 2024 for a cumulative total of nearly $1.5 million added to budgets for Ross County’s school districts, townships and other levying jurisdictions.  

“With this action, we will have cut and returned nearly $1.5 million in excess fees from the Auditor’s real estate office budget since I took office,” Lehner said. “It’s part of how we’re working to produce a more efficient, responsive Ross County government.”

Each property tax collection season, county auditors in Ohio calculate levy revenues proportional to each levy’s millage and distribute them accordingly to each taxing authority. For these services, a fee to fund the Auditor’s real estate office operations is withheld from these distributions.

Lehner added: “I have been asked previously why we don’t return these funds directly to taxpayers.  I would rather do that, but state law requires that these fees can only be spent or returned to taxing districts via their governing authorities.  This move is the best available alternative to allowing these funds to sit in the County’s account without a clear need.”

Lehner continued: “Money taxed beyond actual needs that sits too long is too often wasted on initiatives and pet projects nobody asked for.  We’re doing what we can in the Auditor’s office to stand up for taxpayers; cutting these fees is part of that effort. If we don’t need it, we shouldn’t take it.”

Ross County residents are encouraged to E-mail Auditor Lehner with any questions: JeffLehner@RossCountyOhio.gov