Commissioners ask auditor for impact analysis after considering doubling homestead exemption

Wood County commissioners on April 28 discussed a proposal to double the county's homestead exemption and owner-occupancy tax credit and asked the county auditor to provide a fiscal-impact breakdown before taking further action.

County Administrator Carri Stanley told the board that Treasurer Spoerl had asked whether the commissioners would consider doubling those programs for next year and that Auditor Oestreich was asked to prepare a list showing the amount each local taxing authority would be reduced if the board doubled the exemptions. Stanley also said the current homestead exemption and owner-occupancy credit costs are covered by the state, but that an increase implemented solely by the county would shift the funding burden to local taxing authorities.

Commissioner Craig LaHote said the county should communicate with other taxing authorities that would be affected by the change. Commissioner Doris I. Herringshaw said she believed seven or eight other counties took similar steps last year. Commissioners agreed to defer further consideration until the Auditor's office provides the requested figures.

The item was discussed during the staff/agency reports portion of the April 28 meeting; no formal motion or vote on the exemption change was recorded that day. The next procedural step is for the Auditor's Office to deliver the fiscal impact information, after which the commissioners will resume the conversation.