By John Marra
Let’s be clear: Ohio is breaking the law — its own law.
In 1997, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in DeRolph v. State that the state’s system of school funding — one that leans heavily on local property taxes — was unconstitutional. The Court determined that this method created glaring inequities between districts and violated Ohio’s constitutional obligation to provide a “thorough and efficient system of common schools.” That was nearly three decades ago.
And yet, here we are and nothing has changed!
The burden still falls squarely on homeowners, and the legislature continues to ignore the ruling. The result? A broken system — and a betrayal of both the Ohio Constitution and the residents who are paying the price.
This is the elephant in the room. Nearly two-thirds of your property tax bill goes to schools. So when local governments ask for even modest levies to maintain roads, police, or fire services, they’re often met with frustration — and understandably so. Homeowners are already maxed out, forced to subsidize the state’s failure to fund public education fairly. They’re not just paying taxes — they’re covering for a legislature that refuses to follow the law.
And here’s the worst part: when legislators discuss “property tax relief,” they talk about rising bills — but not the root cause. They never acknowledge that the single biggest driver of property taxes is school funding. That’s what Ohioans can no longer afford. Yet instead of fixing it, the state keeps shifting more responsibility onto local property owners while pretending to offer solutions. It’s a bait-and-switch — and people are finally catching on.
Meanwhile, the state keeps slashing income taxes. On paper, that sounds like relief. In practice, it’s anything but. Each cut reduces the revenue Ohio could use to properly fund schools — which is exactly what the court demanded. The shortfall doesn’t vanish; it gets passed down to you. That means more school levies, more millage, and more tax hikes, even when your income hasn’t changed.
These aren’t votes of choice. They’re ultimatums: “Pass this levy or watch your schools suffer.” It’s a rigged game, and working families, seniors, and those on fixed incomes are the ones paying for it.
To make matters worse, when the state does allocate more funding to schools, it’s often earmarked for narrow initiatives or specific programs — not core operating costs. That forces districts right back to the ballot box, tying their general funding needs to property values. So when your home gets reappraised — even if you didn’t sell it, improve it, or move — your taxes spike. This isn’t just unfair. It’s unsustainable.
And here’s a basic truth the state refuses to acknowledge: money is money — and taxes can only be paid with income. Property, by itself, doesn’t pay taxes. It doesn’t generate cash unless you sell it or lease it out. For most homeowners, especially retirees or middle-class families, their home is their asset, not their income. Expecting them to pay rising taxes on unrealized, paper-based “value” is a recipe for forced sales, displacement and long-term financial harm.
Let’s be honest: homeownership in Ohio is permanent rent to the government. You never really own your home if you can lose it for failing to pay an ever-growing tax tied to its theoretical market value. It punishes stability and targets those least able to keep up — retirees, low-income households and anyone living on a fixed budget.
We were told this would change. The Ohio Supreme Court said it must change. But the legislature hasn’t listened. In fact, they’ve made it worse — deliberately cutting income taxes to benefit their donor base and re-election campaigns, while knowingly starving schools of the funding they need. Then they wash their hands of it and leave local communities to clean up the mess.
This is more than a question of tax fairness. This is a question of law — and whether our lawmakers believe they are bound by it.
Ohio made a promise to its people. Its highest court reinforced that promise. Now it’s time to hold the state accountable.
No more excuses. No more delays. It’s time to remove education funding from the backs of homeowners once and for all — through real reform, constitutional amendment if necessary, and the political will to say enough.
Because this fight isn’t just about taxes. It’s about freedom, liberty and justice. Homeownership is the foundation of freedom and liberty, and allows the transfer of wealth from one generation to the another. Without property ownership, we are merely serfs controlled by the government.
That’s why we must take the next step: abolish property taxes entirely. The state has failed to fix this broken system for nearly 30 years — now it’s up to us. Get details on signing the petition at www.axohtax.com. Be part of the solution. Let’s end this unconstitutional burden once and for all and restore true ownership to the people of Ohio.
John Marra is the mayor of Timberlake. The News-Herald welcomes opinion column submission so all sides of an issue may be aired.