Your Franklin County Auditor’s office launched an informational campaign called Know Your Home Value. The goal is to educate property owners on the Triennial Update, which will adjust the property values of every parcel in the county based on the state of the real estate market. It’s a comprehensive update, and I want property owners to know that they will have a voice in determining their assessed values.

In Ohio, county auditors are required to do a full, general reappraisal once every six years. On the third year in between reappraisals, county auditors are required by Ohio law to adjust property values based on sales and the market over the past three years. The Franklin County Auditor's office last performed a full property appraisal in 2017, so state law requires a Triennial Update in 2020.

The Triennial Update is not intended to increase or decrease taxes, but to keep property values up to date with the market. My goal as your Franklin County Auditor is to complete the most accurate assessment of property possible.

To learn more about the Know Your Home Value campaign, visit your2020homevalue.org. You'll find Triennial information, an educational video and the ability to schedule virtual and in-person Informal Value Review meetings where homeowners can challenge their tentative home values.

Here’s how the Triennial process will work. In late August, tentative property values will be mailed to every Franklin County property owner. If an owner agrees with the value, there is nothing more they need to do. However, If the property owner disagrees with the proposed value, they may participate in an Informal Value Review and discuss their property value with an appraiser. Because of current public health concerns, I encourage the scheduling of virtual Informal Value Reviews, where homeowners can discuss their property value with an appraiser from the comfort of their home.

Final values will be mailed out to those who participated in December, and if a homeowner still disagrees they may file a complaint with the Franklin County Board of Revision, which hears property value challenges.

As we conduct the update, the Auditor’s office is partnering with the Kirwan Institute to support racial equality in the process. The office has also convened a community focus group, which has met virtually and has helped guide our decisions on how to conduct the Triennial.

I am committed to ensuring property owners are a part of this important process. I encourage anyone with questions to visit our Triennial website or call the Auditor’s office at 614-525-HOME.

As always, if you have suggestions, I encourage you to contact me at (614) 525-5700, or at AuditorStinziano@franklincountyohio.gov.  

Legislation to cap Property Tax Increases Introduced at Statehouse

Auditor Stinziano partnered with state Sen. Hearcel Craig to introduce legislation earlier this month that would cap property tax increases at 3 percent per year.

The bill would protect homeowners, many on fixed incomes, from sudden spikes in their taxes. Under the legislation, the state would reimburse any taxes that were lost because of the cap to municipalities or districts.

Both Craig and Stinziano have collaborated in introducing the legislation, based on feedback from constituents. The proposed legislation was first announced last December by Stinziano, Sen. Craig, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Near East Area Commissioner Lela Boykin.

Had the bill been in effect in 2018, more than 60,000 Franklin County homeowners would have been shielded from large increases in their taxes. There were more than 4,300 foreclosures in the county over the last three years.

Nationally, 34 states have similar laws that protect homeowners from large tax increases.

The new legislation is designated Senate Bill 335 and can be viewed at the Ohio Legislature’s website. 

July True Transaction Award goes to the Franklin County Fair and 4H

Auditor Stinziano visited the Franklin County Fair in Hilliard on July 17 and awarded the Fair and 4-H the July True Transaction Award for their superb record of using accurate scales in agricultural and livestock shows.

“Every summer residents eagerly anticipate the Franklin County Fair and its outstanding agricultural shows, entertainment and food,” Stinziano said. “I congratulate Fair staff and 4-H members for their great work with our Weights and Measures staff to ensure accurate scales for their competitions.”

For more than 100 years the Franklin County Fair has entertained residents and participants and is dedicated to preserving the region’s rich agricultural heritage with high quality entertainment, agricultural competitions and food. The fair is being held at the Franklin County Fairgrounds from July 18-July 25. Because of the pandemic, this year’s fair has been modified to allow admittance for fair participants and immediate family members only.

Community Hours

Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano continues to hold weekly Community Hours meetings. These are now being held virtually on facebook @mstinziano. Residents can share their feedback and ideas about the auditor’s office or any concerns they have.

The meetings continue a practice Stinziano has done since he was first elected to office. Community Hours will be held at the dates and times listed below. The area businesses below will be highlighted each week.

Thursday, August 6- 1:00pm                                     

Le Vieux Lyon French Bakery (Truro Township)

Wednesday, August 12 – 11:00am

Capital City Cakes (Grove City)

Monday, August 17 – 11:00am

La Bendicion Bakery (Whitehall)

Thursday, August 27- 12:30pm

Mutts & Co. (New Albany)