State Rep. Rachel Baker visits Terrace Park, warns property-tax reform could strain villages

State Representative Rachel Baker attended the Village of Terrace Park council meeting to meet residents and discuss state-level developments affecting municipal finances.

Baker told the council she retained Terrace Park in her redrawn district, has been meeting with new municipalities in her district and plans to sit in the back of village meetings roughly every six months to remain accessible. She said the governor's budget included a property-tax task force charged with recommending options; Baker said a report is expected by the end of the month and that property taxes will likely be a top issue when the legislature returns to full session Oct. 1.

Baker said a citizen-led referendum seeking to eliminate property taxes has intensified the search for transition solutions, and she emphasized the need for a phased approach to protect local governments that rely heavily on property-tax revenue. Council members and a resident noted Terrace Park’s dependence on property tax and urged that any change include a transition mechanism to avoid sudden revenue loss.

Baker also discussed Terrace Park specialty license plates: she said the legislation authorizing the plates passed, proceeds are earmarked to benefit the Terrace Park Recreation Center (the Recreation Commission is a separate nonprofit), and her office can follow up on administrative rollout questions.

Baker asked residents to contact her office with concerns and said she would remain engaged as property-tax conversations proceed in Columbus.