O
hio Attorney General Dave Yost's office has taken a significant step towards addressing high property tax bills. The office announced it had accepted the title and summary of a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish taxes on real property. This move follows a petition submitted on May 1, which aimed to add a new Section 14 to Article XII of the state constitution.

    The Attorney General's Office reviewed the language to ensure it "fairly and truthfully" summarized the proposed amendment. In response, Yost stated that the title and summary were accurate representations of the proposal. Homeowners in Butler and Hamilton counties have been vocal about the need for relief from skyrocketing property taxes, with data showing a 10% increase in average tax bills and a 34% surge in property values.

    The next step is for the Ohio Ballot Board to certify the proposal. Petitioners must then gather signatures from registered voters equal to at least 10% of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election, with a minimum of 5% from each of 44 counties. If verified by the Secretary of State's Office at least 65 days before an election, the proposed amendment will be placed on the ballot for the next regular or general election occurring 125 days after the petition was filed.