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What Local Taxpayers Need to Know
Ohio enacted several property tax reform laws to reduce large, automatic tax increases caused by rising property values. Most changes take effect for Tax Year 2026 (bills paid in 2027), with some credits appearing as early as the second half tax bills for Tax Year 2025
Why This Matters in Clermont County
Clermont County experienced large valuation increases in recent years, which caused sharp jumps in property tax bills often without a new vote by taxpayers. These new laws are designed to slow those increases, add credits, and improve oversight.
Key Laws & What They Do
HB 124 – Property Valuation Process
What changed: Gives County auditors more authority in valuation decisions and clarifies appeal timelines.
What it means for you: Property values are still determined by the Clermont County Auditor, but the process is intended to be more transparent and predictable.
HB 129 – School “20-Mill Floor” Fix
What changed: More school levies are now counted toward the 20-mill floor.
Why it matters: This reduces automatic school-tax increases that used to occur simply because property values rose.
HB 186 – Inflation Cap & Tax Credits
What changed:
• Limits certain school-tax growth to inflation, not property value spikes
• Creates a new Inflation Cap Credit
• Gradually increases the Owner-Occupancy Credit
• Phases out the Non-Business Credit (agricultural land excluded)
What to look for on your bill: A new credit line reducing school taxes if your school district qualifies.
HB 335 – Limits “Inside Millage” Increases
What changed: Caps growth of inside millage (unvoted local taxes within the 10-mill limit) to inflation during reappraisal/update years.
What it means: Taxes funding county, township, and local services grow more slowly and predictably.
HB 309 – Stronger Local Oversight
What changed: Gives the Clermont County Budget Commission more authority to prevent excessive tax collections.
What it means: Another safeguard against collecting more than is necessary.
What This Does NOT Do
- Does not eliminate property taxes
• Does not stop voter-approved levies
• Does not guarantee lower taxes
– It Does reduce spikes, adds credits, and increases oversight
When You’ll See Changes
- Most provisions affect Tax Year 2026 bills (paid in 2027)
• Some credits may appear as early as the second half tax bills for Tax Year 2025 depending on billing adjustments (HB 186 if your school district qualifies)
Bottom Line for Clermont County Taxpayers
These reforms aim to make property taxes more reasonable, more predictable, and less prone to sudden increases, while still allowing voters not valuations to decide when taxes should rise.
For more information, please contact the Clermont County Auditor’s office at 513.732.7150 or lfraley@clermontcountyohio.gov
If you are not satisfied with the value placed on your property, you may complete and file a Complaint against the Valuation of Real Property to the Board of Revision (BOR). Complaints can be submitted during the filing period between January 1st, and March 31st. Read more here.
House Bill 247, also known as Avery’s Law, is a new Ohio law that updates and strengthens the state’s dog-control laws, especially related to dangerous and vicious dogs. It revises how dogs are classified and managed, increases penalties for negligent owners, and gives local dog wardens expanded authority to respond to attacks. Under the law, courts may be required to order the destruction of dogs that seriously injure or kill a person in an unprovoked attack, and owners can face criminal consequences for failing to control their animals. The law also makes changes to registration, liability, and other regulations governing dog ownership. Effective March 18, 2026, House Bill 247 takes effect and includes a fee increase from $50 to $100, Read more here.
Due to recent legislative changes, second-half tax amounts are being recalculated to include applicable credits. Taxpayers may wish to pay first-half taxes only at this time. Any overpayment will be refunded; processing may take several weeks. First-half real estate taxes are due Friday, February 13, 2026.
CAUV Program: Provides property tax relief by reducing the taxable value of qualifying farmland and timberland. Apply: First Monday in January – First Monday in March Fee: $25 initial filing fee
As winter approaches and more people looks to firewood to help heat their homes, the Ohio Department of Agriculture is offering some basic tips to help when purchasing wood. The following firewood rules and regulations are helpful to review:
- Non-packaged firewood must be sold by the cord or by the fractions of a cord. One cord, when properly stacked, should be 8 feet long by 4 feet high and 4 feet wide (128 cubic feet)
- It is illegal to sell firewood by any other unit of measurement such as rick, rack, face cord or truckload. If a consumer believes that a seller did not comply with these rules and regulations, the person should immediately contact the seller.
- If non-packaged firewood is purchased, the seller must present the consumer with a delivery ticket or sales invoice that includes contact information of seller and purchaser, date of delivery, quantity, quantity upon which price is based, total price of the amount delivered and terms and conditions of sale.
- If the firewood is advertised and sold representation may include a declaration of identity that indicates the species group. (example: 50% hickory, 40% oak, 10% ash). such a representation shall indicate within 10% accuracy, the percentages of each group.
- Be aware of different firewood movement regulations.
- When burning for heat follow State Fire Marshal safety practices.
If you have questions or concerns with a firewood sale, and the seller will not correct the problem, contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Division of Weights and Measures at 613.728.6290 or contact our office.