Ohio Treasurer's office outlines Homebuyer Plus, Stable accounts and programs for local governments

John Gomez, the Ohio Treasurer's Southwest regional public affairs liaison, gave a broad update on programs county governments and residents can use.

Gomez said the state's pooled investment product Star Ohio "has surpassed $1,000,000,000 in interest generated for local governments across the state," and highlighted OMAP (Ohio Market Access Program), which lets political subdivisions use the state's credit rating to reduce borrowing costs. Gomez said an example village saved about $13,000 on an infrastructure bond and other jurisdictions have saved from $5,000 to more than $130,000 depending on project size.

On consumer-facing programs, Gomez described Homebuyer Plus, launched in January 2024: he said the program started with zero accounts and was "closing on 20,000" accounts within nine months. Homebuyer Plus offers an enhanced, state-supplemented rate (example: a base 4% plus about 2.6% state supplement) and allows state income-tax deductions for contributions; employers and family members may contribute, and a pending bill would clarify eligibility for active-duty military stationed in Ohio.

Gomez also summarized Stable accounts for individuals with disabilities, noting roughly 45,000 total accounts now and recent reductions in fees and an initiative refunding the $25 minimum deposit. He said qualifying rules now require disability onset before age 26 but will change on Jan. 1, 2026, to age 46, expanding potential veteran eligibility. He highlighted AgLink (linked-deposit program) that reduced farmers' loan costs and recorded $9 million saved year-to-date as of August, after $14 million in interest savings in 2023.

Commissioners thanked the presenter and asked staff to consider program participation where appropriate; no board action was required that day.