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State senator briefs council on property taxes, housing grants and 'red‑zone' workforce‑housing program
Summary
State Senator Michelle Reynolds told the Canal Winchester City Council July 7 that the recently passed state budget included a new Residential Economic Development District program intended to fund infrastructure for workforce homeownership near large job centers, while property‑tax relief proposals were vetoed by the governor.
State Senator Michelle Reynolds addressed the council and provided a summary of recent activity at the Ohio Statehouse relevant to housing and local government finances.
Reynolds, chair of the Senate Housing Committee, said the budget process included competing proposals to provide property‑tax relief — the House advanced a 30% restriction on school carryover and the Senate proposed a 50% plan — but the governor vetoed the measures. She cautioned that the underlying property‑tax pressures in high‑growth parts of Ohio remain and that voters in some areas are already discussing ballot options to address property taxes in future elections.
Reynolds described a new program in the state budget that creates a Residential Economic Development District (RED District) for very large economic projects that meet thresholds (projects that create 700 jobs or $700 million in investment). A 20‑mile “red zone” would be established automatically around qualifying project sites; local jurisdictions in that zone would be eligible to apply for grant funds (the budget allocated $25 million) to build infrastructure that supports workforce homeownership near major job sites. Reynolds said the program targets homeownership (not rental) and requires jurisdictions to adopt “pro‑housing” policies if they seek the grant dollars; examples include zoning flexibility, accessory dwelling units and other density tools.
She also said the budget provided additional funds to programs addressing low‑income housing (Welcome Home Ohio and the Ohio Housing Trust Fund) and clarified that proposals to add partisan labels to local races would not move forward in the enacted language.
Councilmembers asked about affordability definitions and whether the RED District could apply to local projects (for example, Miller Farms). Reynolds said program rules were still being finalized but that eligibility will consider the project’s workforce and local housing affordability needs; she encouraged municipalities to contact her office about specific developments.
