Affordable Housing is Critical for Our Community
As we prepare to celebrate our Independence day, affordable housing is fast becoming one of the most important issues facing our county and our country. For too many, housing is a day-to-day fight. Jobs have been lost, rents and mortgages are coming due, and a looming eviction crisis awaits us.
This July, I want to explore with our community partners how we can expand the availability of affordable housing for a community that desperately needs it. In pre-pandemic times, the Auditor’s office hosted Affordable Housing Fairs with partner organizations that provided information and resources on housing for the community. But like many public gatherings, those are being postponed in the interest of public health.
Instead, I'm taking the Affordable Housing Fair "virtual" for the month of July, hosting affordable housing experts at each of my weekly community hours this July.
We’ll delve into topics like services that help seniors pay for utilities, services that repair homes for seniors, low income services for families and seniors, and services that help persons with disabilities with housing needs. We’ll also explain how the Auditor’s office can help, including the Homestead Exemption, the Property Tax Assistance Program, and information we have gathered on other community resources that can help with housing.
Among the many groups that will join me are MORPC, IMPACT, Homeport, Franklin County Office on Aging, Nationwide Children’s Healthy Homes, United Health Care—Housing Navigator Dept, Community Housing Network, Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, Homes on the Hill, and Community Mediation of Central Ohio.
There are many components to making housing affordable, and they all make a difference. Housing is a clear social determinant of health, and I'm committed to using this office to help Franklin County residents in any way I can. As always, you can reach me at mstinziano@franklincountyohio.gov, or at 614-525-HOME.
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Franklin County Now Offers E-Recording for Property Transfers and Conveyances
Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano, Recorder Daniel J. O’Connor and Engineer Cornell Robertson jointly announced Monday the newly expanded ability to accept and process deeds electronically, allowing for more efficiency in the transferring of property.
The County has partnered with Simplifile, which has a well-established product to assist with the multiple steps involved in transferring a property. This technology is more efficient for all those transferring property as well as the three government offices involved, but will only supplement current in-person transactions. Title companies, law firms and other companies that handle real estate transactions will benefit the most from this new process.
In addition to being more efficient, Simplifile will eliminate time-consuming check writing, and will immediately identify any errors on documents that are being filed, ensuring they can be quickly corrected and resubmitted.
The launch is timely, as the pandemic has increased the use of e-recording nationwide.
Simplifile is already used by many large counties and municipalities, including Hamilton County in Ohio.
Deadline to Renew 2020 Dog Licenses without penalty is June 30
Auditor Stinziano reminds dog owners that the deadline to renew dog licenses without penalty is June 30. Licensing will be available in the lobby of the County building at 373 S. High St. June 29 & 30 from 8am-5pm for last minute, in-person purchases or renewals. Dog licenses can also be purchased online at doglicense.franklincountyohio.gov.
“The Auditor’s office wants to ensure that everyone can get their dog license free of penalty,” Stinziano said. “Licensing your dog is responsible pet care, and I want to make dog licensing easy and accessible for all Franklin County residents.”
Earlier, in an effort to increase dog license rates after several years of decline, Stinziano worked with commissioners to extend the renewal deadline by two months, from Jan. 31 to March 31. The deadline was further extended to June 30 because of the ongoing public health crisis.
In addition to being required by state law, dog licensing ensures that any lost dog is returned quickly to their owners.
Auditor Stinziano thanks all dog owners who have already purchased or renewed their dog license.
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Property Tax and Tax Assistance Program Deadlines Extended
Due to the current public health emergency, the deadline to pay the second half of property taxes to the Franklin County Treasurer’s office has been extended from June 22 to Aug. 5.
Anyone with questions about their property tax bill, or who would like to submit a payment, can contact the Franklin County Treasurer’s Office at 614-525-3438 or Treasurer@franklincountyohio.gov. Information about property tax bills is also available on the Treasurer’s website, treasurer.franklincountyohio.gov.
Additionally, the deadline for seniors to apply for the Property Tax Assistance Program (PTAP) has also been extended to July 6.
The PTAP provides emergency one-time property tax assistance to low-income homeowners age 60 or older, and is a nonprofit entity funded solely through donations. The Franklin County Auditor’s office has administered the program since November.
PTAP applications are reviewed by a Board consisting of the Franklin County Auditor, Franklin County Treasurer, Franklin County Office on Aging, Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, Concord Counseling, Clintonville CRC, Columbus Catholic Social Services, Syntero, and St. Stephens Community House.
Information about the program and an application can be found on the Auditor’s office website.
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June True Transactions Award goes to Doran’s Farm Market in Plain Township
Auditor Stinziano joined state Rep. Mary Lightbody (19th District) and visited Doran’s Farm Market June 26 to award family-owned Doran’s the June 2020 True Transactions Award for its excellent record of using accurate scales and scanners in its sales of fresh produce.
“As the summer berry picking season arrives, I want to congratulate Doran’s on their outstanding record of using accurate scales and scanners in selling their fresh produce. Doran’s staff ensure customers get everything they pay for, from strawberries to armfuls of pumpkins in the fall.” Stinziano said.
The event was live-streamed on Facebook, as Auditor Stinziano, Rep. Lightbody and Weights and Measures staff explained the science and importance of scales and measurement.
For many years Doran’s has offered Franklin County consumers a wide variety of local fresh produce picked daily, from sweet corn to zucchini, tomatoes, and berries. The farm market is also well-known for its u-pick pumpkin patch in the fall. Doran’s is located at 5462 Babbitt Rd. in Plain Township, near New Albany.
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July Community Hours ~ Virtual Affordable Housing Fair Conversations
*Streamed live on facebook at @mstinziano.
Wednesday, July 1st 11:00am
MORPC and IMPACT
Thursday, July 9th 9:30am
Homeport and Franklin County Office on Aging
Tuesday, July 14th 4:00pm
Nationawide Children's Healthy Homes and United Health Care
Thursday, July 23rd 12:00pm
Community Housing Network and the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel
Thursday, July 30th 10:00am
Homes on the Hill and Community Mediation of Central Ohio
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