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House panel advances bill tightening county budget commission review of levies; advocates warn of DD funding risk
Summary
The Ohio House Ways and Means Committee advanced House Bill 309 after amending definitions and extending a temporary safe-harbor for newly approved levies from one to five years. Supporters said the bill clarifies budget-commission authority; opponents representing county boards of developmental disabilities warned unspecified rollbacks could end‑j
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Romer said the committee moved House Bill 309 forward Thursday after adopting an amendment that extends a short-term limit on when county budget commissions can reduce newly approved levies.
The bill, as amended, prevents a county budget commission from decreasing a levy within five years of the levy’s first vote and adds definitions for “unnecessary” and “excessive” collections recommended by the governor’s property‑tax study group. The committee accepted the sponsor’s amendment before taking public testimony and ultimately voted to report the bill to the full House.
The change is intended to give local officials and taxpayers clearer standards when a three‑member county budget commission — typically the county auditor, treasurer and prosecutor — reviews local tax levies and collections. “We are the taxpayers’ voice in this whole conversation,” Representative Thomas said while describing the…
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