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Commissioners press state representatives on HB 15 and rising property tax burdens
Summary
Lake County commissioners said they are lobbying state lawmakers to amend House Bill 15, which they said could shift tax burdens if it exempts existing power plants, and urged larger homestead exemptions for seniors amid rising property valuations.
Lake County commissioners used the meeting's old‑business portion to report ongoing advocacy related to House Bill 15 and rising property tax burdens for county residents.
Commissioners and the county auditor reported meeting with state representative Dave Thomas and said current language in HB 15 would exempt power plants such as the Perry nuclear power plant from personal property tax — an outcome they said could cause significant revenue loss for Perry-area schools and the county unless the bill is amended. Commissioners said they prefer the senate version that would not exempt preexisting plants and support proposals that would limit exemptions for new plants to a temporary five‑year window.
The commissioners also described receiving an "unprecedented" number of complaints from residents about property tax increases driven by rising valuations. The board said it is pressing state lawmakers for fairer valuation processes and a substantial increase to the homestead exemption for seniors. One commissioner said the current eligibility cap (described in the meeting as around $40,000) was insufficient for many seniors and urged state action.
Commissioners said the county has limited legislative authority but will continue to advocate with state representatives and senators and thanked County Auditor Chris Galloway for testifying in Columbus on the issue.
No formal county resolution on HB 15 was recorded in the meeting transcript; the remarks were presented as ongoing advocacy and direction to state legislators.
