Smith Votes Against Veto Override that Undermines Local Governments and Schools

Today, state Senator Kent Smith (D-Euclid) condemned the Ohio Senate Republicans’ vote to override Governor DeWine’s veto of a provision to restrict the ability of communities to put levies for schools and local services before voters under the guise of tax relief.

“Today, Ohio Senate Republicans did not fix school funding or provide much-needed relief to Ohio homeowners, but they did make it harder for schools and communities to provide the basic services that Ohio residents depend on,” said Smith. “It’s another day when the Ohio GOP has shown themselves to be unwilling and incapable of governing. I just hope that on Election Day, Ohioans remember which party offered solutions and which party couldn't be bothered to help.”

The provision will strip local communities, schools, and libraries of their ability to clearly present certain replacement and emergency levies to their voters, and will block voters from deciding whether to raise funds for services like schools, fire departments, and libraries. Overriding this veto provides no actual property tax relief and instead shifts the responsibility to provide relief from the state to our local communities.

Senate Democrats have proposed a number of actual property tax relief policies, including a property tax circuit breaker, an expansion of the homestead exemption, and freezing property taxes for qualifying homeowners 65 years old and older.