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Knox County commissioners approve permissive homestead tax exemption for low-income seniors
Summary
The Knox County commissioners on Oct. 23 approved a resolution directing county staff to implement a new local permissive homestead property tax exemption for eligible low-income seniors, effective for tax year 2025 (bills payable in 2026). The board adopted the measure by voice vote; the transcript does not record a full roll call.
Knox County commissioners approved a resolution Thursday directing county staff to implement a local permissive homestead property tax exemption under a new state law aimed at reducing tax bills for eligible low-income seniors.
Jason Booth, introduced at the meeting to explain the change, told the commissioners that “under a new law that was put in on in September, The county commissioners, you do have the authority to permit local permissive homestead exemptions, pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code.” Booth said the exemption would be applied so that it takes effect with tax year 2025 and would affect bills mailed for 2026.
The chair said the board wanted to provide relief to seniors who are struggling to pay property taxes and that confusion over timing and implementation had delayed action. The chair then moved to approve the resolution and a commissioner seconded; the board adopted the measure by voice vote.
Booth said the process requires certification of the resolution before county financial offices make the changes. “Once Penny would certify the resolution, then we would submit it to the auditor and the trader. They'd make those changes effective with next tax year,” Booth said in the meeting. The transcript names “Penny” as a certifying official but does not specify her official title.
Booth also said the county had been told the board needed to adopt the change by Oct. 31 and indicated county contacts had communicated that the action was needed by the end of the following day. The transcript does not include a formal roll-call vote or a full tally; it records the motion, a second and a voice vote in which those present answered “aye.”
The resolution directs the county auditor to apply the permissive homestead exemption for taxpayers who already meet the eligibility requirements for the existing homestead exemption and who qualify under the new permissive layer authorized by the Ohio Revised Code. The meeting concluded immediately after the vote when the board moved to adjourn.
What happens next: county staff will proceed with certification and submission to the offices that adjust tax bills; the transcript did not specify which office will issue notices to affected property owners or any outreach timeline beyond the implementation year.
