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Sponsor proposes property tax freeze for qualifying seniors, sparking constitutional and fiscal questions
Summary
Representative Isaacson testified for House Bill 156, which would freeze property taxes for qualifying homeowners at age 65 if taxable income is under $50,000, home value is under $500,000 and residency of at least two years; members asked about state reimbursement, constitutional uniformity, and fiscal cost.
Representative Isaacson told the House Ways and Means Committee that House Bill 156 would freeze property taxes for qualifying seniors when they turn 65, a measure he and his co-sponsor argue would prevent seniors from being taxed out of their homes.
"When you turn 65 ... your property taxes would be frozen at that rate," Representative Isaacson said, describing eligibility as a taxable income below $50,000, a home value under $500,000 and at least two years of residency. He framed the proposal as targeted relief for the majority of Ohio seniors, saying the median home value in Ohio is about $240,000.
Members questioned whether the measure could raise constitutional issues because property tax rates must be uniform. Ranking Member Troy asked whether the approach would withstand constitutional scrutiny; Isaacson said the committee’s approach would be that the tax rate remains uniform while the state would make up the difference — a position he said he would leave to legal advocates and legislative service counsel to test.
Committee members also pressed whether local governments should share costs. Isaacson said he expects the state should reimburse local governments in the current fiscal context and noted that the Local Government Fund and other state-local funding choices affect what the state can afford. Members sought a fiscal analysis; Isaacson said the true cost depends on future levies and home values and suggested restoring prior state support levels as a negotiation starting point.
No committee vote was taken at the hearing. Committee members requested a fiscal estimate and legal analysis to determine whether the design would be constitutionally permissible and to quantify state reimbursement needs going forward.
