Butler County asks state to clarify House Bill 335 language and preserve county authority over inside millage

Butler County commissioners voted to have the county administrator draft a letter to state lawmakers seeking clarifying language in House Bill 335 and asking that the county maintain its authority over inside millage adjustments.

Administrator Boyko told the board the bill's current language could require the auditor's office to re‑certify roughly 11,000 property owners who currently receive the local homestead option unless the state clarifies that pre‑2013 eligibility is preserved. "The house correction bill... clarifies the language," Boyko said when describing the version under consideration and said clarification would spare the auditor a large administrative review.

The administrator said the change would preserve existing homestead local-option recipients and estimated about 18,000 recipients overall would be protected by the corrected language. Commissioners expressed concern that another provision in the bill would require the board to go to the budget commission to change inside millage, effectively removing the board's unilateral authority to raise or lower that millage. One commissioner argued the board should retain the right to adjust inside millage when revenues allow tax reductions.

After discussion, the board voted to authorize the county administrator to draft a letter for the board's signature requesting two items: (1) language that prevents the need for auditor re‑certification of homestead local-option recipients and (2) removal of language that restricts the board of commissioners' authority to lower the inside millage and to request that the budget commission include a county commissioner as a member.

Ending note: Commissioners said they had communicated informally with state senators and other officials and will send the drafted letter as their formal testimony on the bill.