House Undermines Schools and Local Governments: Antonio Pushes Back on Veto Override

Today, Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) issued a statement following Ohio House Republicans’ vote to override Governor DeWine’s veto of a provision of the state’s operating budget that punishes local school districts and communities under the guise of property tax relief.

“By overriding this veto, House Republicans are sending a clear message: they are willing to silence voters and dismantle the tools communities rely on to fund essential services. This provision undermines local control, weakens public education, and erodes trust in our democratic institutions,” said Antonio. “ The elephant in the room is that if the Republican majority had fully funded our state share to the schools, we would not have a property tax crisis. This vote will strip communities of the ability to make decisions about their schools, fire departments, libraries, and more, and it directly contradicts the values of representative government. Ohioans deserve better than state-imposed barriers to community progress presented as fake property tax relief.”

Republican House members voted to override a veto of a provision that would strip local governments of the power to determine which types of property tax levies best suit their community. This would block voters from deciding whether to raise funds for services like schools, fire departments, and libraries.

Senate Democrats have continued to propose 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.

The Ohio Senate must also vote to override this provision.