Commissioners weigh county options after Ohio’s House Bill 96 on property‑tax relief

Hamilton County commissioners received an Oct. 21 briefing on options created by Ohio’s House Bill 96 that would let counties add ("piggyback") additional property‑tax relief to existing state relief programs. County staff cautioned that the state will not reimburse any additional relief authorized by counties under the bill, and commissioners discussed the budgetary and jurisdictional consequences of possible county action.

Jeff (county official) introduced the topic and asked Enrique Martin from the county budget office to describe the programs. Martin said two state programs are the basis for piggyback options: the homestead exemption (standard reduction for seniors 65+ and disabled homeowners under a household‑income threshold and an enhanced reduction for disabled veterans and surviving spouses) and the owner‑occupancy credit (a 2.5% credit on certain voted levies for a taxpayer’s primary residence that applies to levies passed before fall 2013). He noted roughly…