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Superintendent warns of possible statewide property-tax repeal, outlines several bills that could change school funding
Summary
Superintendent Doctor Campbell told the Orange Board of Education that a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes has been certified for signature gathering and warned it, along with multiple House bills limiting levy types and thresholds, could significantly affect local school and municipal budgets.
Doctor Campbell, the district superintendent, told the Orange Board of Education on Oct. 13 that residents and officials should watch a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate taxes on real property in Ohio. “A proposed amendment to the state constitution that would abolish and prohibit all taxes on real property in Ohio,” he read into the record, and said proponents must collect 413,488 valid signatures by July 1, 2026, to qualify for the ballot.
Why it matters: Campbell warned that abolishing property taxes would shift the burden for funding schools and municipal services and could force taxing authorities to seek replacement revenue through sales or income taxes, or other mechanisms. “It's not just a school district — police, fire, libraries, metroparks,” he said, noting the cascading fiscal effects on municipalities and other local services.
Campbell also summarized several bills moving through the Ohio legislature that could alter how schools and municipal levies function. He identified House Bill 335 as proposing a 1% cap on inside millage growth; House Bill 420 would eliminate continuous levies; HB 421 would let voters challenge inside millage amounts; and HB 422 would raise the passage thresholds for levies (for example, requiring a 60% or 66% majority for certain millage ranges). Campbell said those bills remain early in the process but could “grow legs” and materially change how districts plan budgets.
Board members asked clarifying questions about the mechanics and likely impacts. One member noted that inside millage typically contributes only a fraction of total millage but said even small changes can add up. Another board member asked whether the 1% growth cap would apply to valuation increases or include new construction; Campbell said he had not yet received clarification on that point. Several members highlighted the uncertainty of how proponents of a property-tax repeal would propose to replace lost revenue.
The superintendent urged caution to voters approached by petition circulators and recommended that the board and district keep the community informed as proposals develop. The remarks were read into the public record and the board agreed to continue monitoring the bills and ballot activity.
Next steps: The district plans to track these proposals and discuss fiscal and policy implications at future audit and finance meetings; the 5-year forecast the treasurer presented tonight will be filed with the state on schedule.
