Ross Commissioners Lower Inside Millage On Property Taxes While Urging Other Entities to Follow Suit
Article Presented By The Mothman Experience…
(Ross County) – The Ross County Commissioners have decided to reduce the inside millage on county property taxes for 2026 and are asking other local government and school entities to do the same. This move is being made in light of the astronomical increases projected for property owners throughout Ohio.
Ross County is dropping the inside millage by another 30% to 1.68% for the 2026 tax year. This move will negate the scheduled 30% tax increase for Ross County homeowners on the portion funding Ross County government.
The Ross County Commissioners made the announcement in a letter to the community, which can be found below:
Over the last three years, property valuations have skyrocketed in Ohio at a level never experienced before. The main cause of these increased residential and commercial property
values, and the associated tax payments, are because of the low inventory of homes available for sale creating bidding wars during sales negotiations, combined with record inflation. Ohio now ranks eighth ni the nation for property tax burden.
Increases to Property taxes each year between 20% to 30% or more is not fair to Ross County taxpayers. With viable concerns of people being forced out of their homes because they cannot afford the taxes, the Ross County Commissioners are saying enough is enough.
In the 2025 tax year, the county commissioners voted unanimously to lower the inside millage
tax rate of the county government’s portion of property tax from 3.1% to 2.4% at the request of
Auditor Jeff Lehner. The Tax Commission, made up of the Auditor, Treasurer David Jeffers, and
Prosecutor Jeff Marks enacted this change under their authority late last year. The Tax
Commission is restricted by Ohio State law as to how low they can reduce the tax rate, and they
cannot take it any lower. The Commissioners however, can take the inside millage to a lower
level based upon our analysis of lower property tax revenue compared to total county expenses
for the services we are to provide the tax payers. We have decided to reduce the inside millage
down another 30% to 1.68% for the 2026 tax year. This move will negate the scheduled 30% tax
increase for Ross County homeowners on the portion funding Ross County government. In
simple terms, we will not take any additional property tax income to run the county. We wil meet
this objective with responsible budgeting, cost cutting, and reducing the carryover to a proper level.
We must emphasize that the county government portion of the total property tax bil is only approximately 6%. We strongly recommend that the other entities which receive property tax revenue at higher levels do the same to create the ful impact of tax reduction for Ross County property owners. Jefferson, Union and Scioto townships have already lowered their inside millage and we commend them for this action.
The remaining 13 townships need to evaluate the same action. The school systems of Ross County which receive approximately 60% of property tax revenues need to take similar measures to keep Ross County a low-cost place to live.
The Auditor has done a commendable job informing the public and creating options tax payers can utilize to reduce property tax rates further in addition to the measures outlined here. We urge residents to meet with him and take advantage of his programs. He wil be happy to help you.
This issue did not originate at the local level. The Ohio House of Representatives and Senate must create a workable solution and bring balance back to our tax code. This should not be a property owner’s personal problem – it is a policy failure.
