More financial relief coming to residents

PERKINS TWP. — Last week, all three Erie County commissioners — Matt Old, Pat Shenigo and Steve Shoffner — voted to implement all three of the maximum property tax relief measures authorized for Ohio-based counties. This makes Erie County the first county in Ohio to approve these cost-cutting measures for residents. After receiving strong public support from residents who benefited from the relief during the first year, beginning in mid-2024, commissioners, once again, agreed to renew the homestead exemption and the owner-occupancy tax credit. They're also continuing to suspend the collection of local property taxes, returning this amount of money back to residents. As costs continue to rise across the nation, county commissioners remain committed to pursuing practical solutions for residents that provide meaningful financial relief while still maintaining essential public services. The renewed exemptions and suspension will continue helping thousands of residents keep more of their hard-earned money and remain in the homes they have worked to build. Saving big bucks During the past two years and when factoring in the next 12 months, commissioners will deliver at least $30 million in property tax relief in total. An upcoming vote by the county's budget commission, consisting of officials other than commissioners, will determine if even more property tax relief can occur this year. "Erie County continues to lead Ohio in providing meaningful property tax relief," county commissioner Matt Old said. "With the action we took (last week), we will have put more than $30 million back into the pockets of our taxpayers," Old added when adding up all dollars dating back to 2024. "At a time when families are feeling the pressure of rising costs, every local government should be looking for ways to let people keep more of the money they've earned. I encourage other local governments across Erie County to follow the lead of the commissioners and make tax relief a priority." Tackling the 3 measures Regarding the three measures approved: • The homestead exemption provides property tax relief to qualifying homeowners above the age of 65 or those who are permanently disabled. Eligible homeowners will receive a reduction in taxable value of their home, which is currently approximately $29,000, under both the state exemption and the county's matching exemption. State lawmakers recently approved their own one-time expansion of the homestead credit for next year. The actual savings vary depending on local millage rates but should be between $1,200 and $1,500 per property, according to Erie County treasurer Caleb Stidham. • The owner-occupancy tax credit provides an additional reduction in property taxes for primary residences. The credit offers up to a 2.5% reduction on property taxes for primary residential homeowners. Unlike the homestead exemption, this reduction applies regardless of age or income and could impact up to nearly 14,000 properties this year. Collectively, the homestead tax exemption and owner-occupancy tax credit have been long-standing tax exemptions for qualified homeowners through the state. The state authorized county commissioners to adopt local expanded tax exemptions, allowing counties to provide additional property tax relief equal to the state's original benefit. • For the third consecutive year, county commissioners agreed not to collect their share of property taxes from local residents. In this decision. "In 2024, Erie County foresaw an unfortunate manifestation of the property tax system. Thousands of residents saw substantial property tax increases that were unvoted," according to a 2025 letter county commissioners sent out, which they used to base their decision then and now. This alludes to other taxing agencies — think local schools, area police and fire departments, among many others — requesting more money, through levy issues, in recent years. "Keeping county property taxes more in line with our needs as a county is a priority for me moving forward," county commissioner Steve Shoffner said. "If at all possible, all government bodies in the county should be looking to do the same."