The beginning of summer has brought celebration and a slow return to normal life. For the first time ever, the country officially recognized Juneteenth to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and to celebrate African American culture and history. Also this past month, Pride events throughout Franklin County have celebrated equity and inclusion for our LGBTQ community. At many of these events, your Franklin County Auditor’s office has been there to engage our community and let everyone know how our office can serve you.
For Pride month, Auditor’s office staff were at more than a dozen events throughout the county where we let residents know about the services the office provides, from dog licensing to the Homestead Exemption.
As our community moves forward this summer and vaccinations continue apace, I am committed to being out in our neighborhoods engaging residents more than ever before. From parades to Yappy Hour at BrewDog to Wednesday afternoons at Scioto Audubon Dog Park, the office will be out there serving the community.
The office will be holding a Housing Accessibility Town Hall on July 14 at 6pm at the Southfield Community Baptist Church (1399 Augmont Ave, Columbus, OH 43207). The event is free and open to the public, and I want to personally invite you to attend. You can rsvp here.
Look for more community engagement as more events are scheduled, and our mobile office will be visiting neighborhoods across the county bringing Auditor’s office services to you. It’s all part of making your Franklin County Auditor’s office accessible to everyone in our community.
As always, if you have suggestions, I encourage you to contact me at (614) 525-5700, or at AuditorStinziano@franklincountyohio.gov.
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Auditor’s Office Counters are Reopening
Auditor’s office counters that serve the public will reopen July 6 after a more than year-long hiatus due to COVID restrictions. The office, located at 373 S. High St. in downtown Columbus, will continue to observe healthy practices such as social distancing and sanitizing surfaces. Mask wearing will continue to be welcome. While the office has been open for business during the entire pandemic, July 6 marks the first date counters will be fully open to the public.
The licensing counter on the 21st floor where residents can purchase dog and vendors licenses will be open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. The Board of Revision counters located on the 20th floor will also be open from 8 am to 4 pm. Transfer and Conveyance counters located on the 19th floor will now be open from 9 am to noon, and from 1 pm to 4 pm.
Drop boxes on the 19th floor and the 1st floor will continue to be available if residents prefer to use them for filings.
Auditor Stinziano Unveils Tax Incentives Hub
Auditor Stinziano unveiled a new, one-stop shop website this month that uses innovative GIS technologies to show comprehensive details on every tax incentive in use in the county.
The Tax Incentives Hub features maps that show where incentives are in use, the different types of incentives, data about the incentives, and the local ordinance that created each. The maps can break down the tax incentives by municipality, so residents can see which are in use in their neighborhood.
“As your Franklin County Auditor I want to ensure that taxpayers know about tax incentives and whether they are providing the benefits promised to our communities – and whether they are working,” Stinziano said.
The Hub also lists the effects each incentive has on government agencies that depend on tax revenue, and it links to specific information about each incentive at the individual municipality’s economic development website. A downloadable spreadsheet listing information on all incentives is also available on the Hub.
The Hub also features a compilation of information from Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC) meetings that were held from May to August 2020. By law, Auditor Stinziano is chair of those councils.
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Ahead of Holiday, Dog Licensing Deadline Approaching
As the July 1 deadline to renew dog licenses without penalty approaches, Auditor Stinziano reminds dog owners that one of the best ways to ensure safety for your canine friend this July 4th holiday is to license your dog.
Licensing your dog ensures that if they get lost or run away, especially because of fireworks, they can be quickly returned to their owner.
Dog licenses can be purchased online at doglicense.franklincountyohio.gov, or after the public counters reopen July 6 at the Auditor’s office licensing counter, 373 S. High St., 21st Floor, from 8 am to 4 pm.
In addition to being required by state law, dog licensing ensures that a dog has been vaccinated against rabies, which is required in Franklin County.
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Market on the Green wins June True Transactions Award
Market on the Green in Whitehall has won the June True Transactions Award for its excellent record of using accurate scales and scanners for its customers.
“Congratulations to Market on the Green and all of its vendors on their outstanding record of using accurate scales and scanners in their sales of quality local produce, baked goods and more. Staff at the market and vendors work with Weights and Measures inspectors to ensure accurate scales and scanners for their customers, a trait of a great local market,” Stinziano said.
Market on the Green is a farmers market that features vendors selling quality local produce, jams and honey, baked goods and homemade items. The market was founded this year and is held at Kelly Green, 105 Norton Park Dr. in Whitehall on Tuesdays from 4 pm to 6:30 pm.
Community Hours
Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano continues to hold weekly Community Hours meetings where residents can stop by and visit and share firsthand their feedback and ideas about the auditor’s office or any concerns they have, virtually via facebook @mstinziano or in-person.
The meetings continue a practice Stinziano has done since he was first elected to office. Community Hours will be held at the dates and locations listed below.
Tuesday, July 6 - 11:00am ~virtual~
Featuring Bexley Coffee Shop (Bexley, OH)
Thursday, July 15 - 12:00pm
Canal Winchester City Hall (36 S. High St., Canal Winchester, OH)
Monday, July 19 - 1:00pm
Franklin County Fair (4100 Columbia St., Hilliard, OH)
Tuesday, July 27 – 10:30am ~virtual~
Featuring Transcend Coffee and Roastery (Grove City, OH)
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