Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Tax topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Franklin County auditor outlines 2026 property value update; Gahanna sees about 8% rise
Summary
A county presentation explained the 2026 property value update process and timeline: tentative mailers this summer, local review sessions July–September, and a county average value increase of roughly 8% (Gahanna‑Jefferson residential ~9%). Officials said value changes do not automatically produce identical tax increases.
PR Casey, general counsel and deputy chief of staff for the Franklin County Auditor, briefed Gahanna City Council on the county’s 2026 property value update and what property owners can expect.
Casey said the update is a mandated midpoint market evaluation that relies on arm’s‑length sales from 2023–25 rather than a full in‑person reappraisal. He told the council the county submitted values to the Ohio Department of Taxation and expected approval in early June, after which tentative value mailers will go out and property‑value review sessions will be held across Franklin County between July and September.
“Every property is not actually visited and looked at in person by an appraiser,” Casey said. “This year we’re studying the sales in the last three years and only considering arm’s‑length sales.” He added the county will post a “Know Your Home Value” site June 9 to let owners schedule reviews and use tools such as the county tax estimator.
Casey gave a countywide context: the historic 2023 reappraisal produced large increases — as much as 35% countywide and 41% for residential in that cycle — and the 2026 update is a smaller adjustment. He said the overall county average change in this update is about 8% and that Gahanna‑Jefferson consolidated school district properties are expected to rise roughly 8% overall and about 9% for residential properties.
Council members asked whether higher assessed values mean a proportional tax increase. Casey answered that tax bills depend on levy rates and the statutory calculation: “You take 35% of the auditor’s value multiplied times the local taxing district rate.” He emphasized that an 8% rise in value does not equate to an 8% tax increase.
The auditor’s office will send tentative value notices once state approval is received; owners who disagree may attend a property value review session with appraisers or file a formal appeal with the board of revision (auditor, treasurer and a board of commissioners representative). Casey also noted a tax estimator tool and said only people who request a review will receive a final letter (often in December) after the review process.
What’s next: the county’s “Know Your Home Value” website will be available June 9 with scheduling and the tax estimator; tentative mailers and local review sessions are expected to follow. Owners who want more detail can contact the Franklin County Auditor’s office to request local breakdowns by neighborhood.
