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District treasurer warns board pending property‑tax bills could cut millions from Little Miami revenue
Summary
The treasurer told the Little Miami board that several recently passed House bills could reduce district property‑tax revenue by millions over the next few years; he called the situation uncertain, urged caution and said projections are preliminary until Columbus clarifies how the bills interact.
At the Dec. 9 special meeting the district treasurer (Speaker 2) briefed the Little Miami Local Board of Education on recent state legislative activity that could materially affect the district's property‑tax revenue.
The treasurer told the board that four House bills referenced in the packet (identified in the presentation as House Bill 186, House Bill 129, House Bill 305 and House Bill 335) have provisions that interact with homestead, rollback and inside‑millage calculations. He said the Legislative Service Commission has produced projections for some measures and cautioned that the bills contradict each other in places, making the net effect unclear until state officials resolve precedence and the governor acts.
"They're estimating in the beginning in the '28, we're gonna see a reduction of about 3,200,000," Speaker 2 said, noting that figure is an initial estimate and that he expects more analysis. He described the current outlook as uncertain: "No one really knows where we're gonna fall right now...I never have a 100% clue. It's a crystal ball, but it's like it's a 50‑50 right now." (Speaker 2).
The treasurer explained mechanics: one bill would grant the county budget commission authority to lower tax rates if a locality is judged to have excess resources; another would limit growth in inside millage to a GDP‑deflator calculation, which could restrict how much local levies can increase with rising property valuations. He warned that, combined, those changes could reduce both property‑tax growth and state formula aid in some scenarios.
Board members asked clarifying questions about timing and magnitude. The treasurer said the bills had passed both legislative chambers but, to his knowledge, had not yet been delivered to the governor for signature; once the governor receives bills he has ten days to sign, veto or allow them to become law. He emphasized the district will proceed under current law for the upcoming budget cycle and promised to update the board as Columbus provides clearer guidance.
What this means for the district Speaker 2 framed the fiscal picture as uncertain but potentially significant: projected multi‑million dollar changes would affect long‑term planning and might necessitate levies or other local actions depending on the final legislative language. The treasurer recommended conservatism in near‑term hiring and budget commitments until the state clarifies the laws' interactions.
Next steps The treasurer said he will continue to gather Legislative Service Commission analysis and notify the board as additional clarifications or projections become available.
