Clark County Auditor John S. Federer applauds the March 11th recommendation of the Ohio House Finance Committee to move Amended House Bill 85 forward. If enacted by the Ohio House and Senate, H.B. 85 would offer additional property tax relief to disabled veterans in Ohio. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Anne Gonzalez and Louis Terhar, increases, from $25,000 to $50,000, the amount of the homestead exemption that is available to qualified homeowners who are disabled veterans.
According to Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo, who testified in support of the bill on behalf of the County Auditors’ Association of Ohio, “Ohio is one of only four states that did not offer any sort of property tax relief for veterans. We can and should do more in Ohio to help and assist our disabled military veterans.”
The homestead exemption is a statewide program, administered by County Auditors, which allows qualified senior citizens and permanently and totally disabled homeowners to reduce their property tax burden by shielding some of the market value of their home from taxation.
The Disabled Veterans’ Exemption allows qualifying homeowners to exempt $50,000 of the market value of their homes from all local property taxes. For example, an eligible owner of a home with a market value of $100,000 will be billed as if the home were valued at $50,000.
To receive the increased exemption under the bill, a homeowner must be a veteran of the United States armed forces, reserves, or National Guard who was honorably discharged with a service-connected total and permanent disability certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal agency. When applying for the exemption, the veteran must provide written confirmation of the disability from the federal government.
County Auditor Federer believes the additional savings included in the bill to disabled veterans would be substantial and warranted. Auditor Federer urges members of the Ohio General Assembly to enact the measure quickly.