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The holidays are a time for families and friends to gather, give, and celebrate. In this season of giving and of thanks, your Franklin County Auditor’s office is giving back to the community with the refund this month of millions of dollars to schools, libraries and municipalities.
A total of $5 million is being refunded, including more than $3.2 million to school districts, $131,272 to libraries, and $392,195 for cities and villages. By being fiscally responsible, the office is able to refund this money, which is collected as required by state law to pay for real estate reappraisals and triennial updates.
In returning these funds schools will be able to buy needed supplies, or libraries and cities might be able to provide more services for taxpayers. An interactive map showing how much each entity in the county is receiving is available here.
The refund of money is but one way the Auditor’s office is supporting our community this holiday season. In addition, the Auditor’s Office is also now accepting applications to the Property Tax Assistance Program (PTAP) which provides low-income elderly homeowners emergency one-time assistance in paying their property taxes.
Though historically the program has been funded solely through donations, new this year Franklin County Commissioners are allocating $20,000 in funding per half year to PTAP, which will enable the expansion of the program so it can help more of our older homeowners receive financial assistance that can help them remain in their homes.
Qualifying low-income homeowners age 60 or older have until December 20 to apply to PTAP for assistance in paying 2021 first half property taxes.
Through both PTAP and the refunds to schools, libraries and municipalities, the Auditor’s office is working hard to support the residents and businesses of Franklin County. I hope everyone has a happy and prosperous holiday season!
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Michael Stinziano
Franklin County Auditor |
 Auditor Stinziano Holds 150th Community Hours
Auditor Stinziano held his 150th Community Hours meeting this month with constituents in Valleyview. The meetings, which have been held in every municipality and township in Franklin County, continue a practice that began when Stinziano was first elected as a State Representative in 2013.
Since he was elected Auditor, Stinziano has used the meetings to highlight and support local small businesses and their products and services.
“As your Franklin County Auditor Community Hours have been invaluable to me so I can hear firsthand the ideas and feedback of residents and promote our small businesses,” Stinziano said.
Stinziano will continue to hold weekly Community Hours throughout the county, both virtually and in-person. All are welcome to attend and share their thoughts and ideas.
 Deadline for Me & My Pal Drawing Contest Extended
The deadline for students in grades K-6 to submit a drawing of themselves and their dogs for the annual Me & My Pal drawing contest has been extended through December 3.
The contest promotes responsible pet ownership and the advantages of properly licensing dogs. The Me & My Pal extension comes as the annual dog license renewal season begins December 1.
For the contest, students are asked to draw a picture of themselves and their dog on a letter-size (8 ½” x 11”) white sheet of paper using crayons, color pencils, pens, markers or paint. Entries will be judged by an Auditor’s office panel in December, with an awards ceremony later in the month.
Winners receive an award certificate, a commemorative photo taken with the Auditor, and will have their artwork featured in an all-new 2022 Me & My Pal Calendar. In addition, the overall winner receives a free 2022 dog license and will have their drawing used in promotional materials and on Auditor’s office social media.
For more information and for Me & My Pal submission forms, visit the Auditor’s office website.
One-year, three-year and permanent dog licenses can be purchased online at doglicense.franklincountyohio.gov, or at the Auditor’s office license counter, 373 S. High St., 21st Floor in downtown Columbus. The counter is open Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 4 pm.
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Staff Spotlight: Gena Miller Shelton
One of the primary duties of the Auditor’s office is to be transparent for the residents of Franklin County, which is the main role of Open Government & Transparency Manager Gena Miller Shelton.
Her responsibilities include fulfilling public records requests, ensuring compliance with sunshine laws, and promoting transparency about the workings of the office.
“I ensure compliance with public record requests but my job is also to ensure that we are truly open to the public. Often you can fulfill a records request that meets the letter of the law but isn’t useful or understandable to the public. My job is to ensure we do both – we meet our legal obligations but we are also providing the public information in a way that is usable and understandable.”
Her favorite thing about her job: discovering the many different functions of the office.
Gena joined the Auditor’s office in 2019.
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 New Email Notification System Launched to Protect Homeowners from Fraud
Auditor Stinziano launched a new Property eAlert system this month that helps protect homeowners from title theft and fraud.
The Auditor’s Property eAlerts notification system is a free and convenient service that allows property owners to sign up to receive an email alert whenever a change is made to the owner name, address, or appraised value associated with a property’s record. The Property eAlerts system is integrated into the office’s real estate record database and provides registered homeowners with immediate notification of a change in their property’s ownership or value.
The new system addresses concerns about the security of property deeds and the threat that a home’s title could be “stolen” by a fraudulent actor who files a counterfeit deed and transfers the home out of their ownership.
Anyone who suspects they are a victim of fraud can call the Auditor’s office Fraud Hotline at (614) 525-SCAM.
You can sign up for eAlerts by clicking here:
https://www.franklincountyauditor.com/real-estate/property-e-alerts
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Kuhlwein’s Farm Market & Deli wins November True Transaction Award
Kuhlwein’s Farm Market & Deli has won the November True Transactions Award for its excellent record of using accurate scales and scanners in its sales of high-quality produce and market goods.
“Congratulations to the staff at Kuhlwein’s for operating an outstanding market for their customers and using accurate scales and scanners,” Stinziano said. “Kuhlwein’s staff works diligently with Weights and Measures to ensure their scales are accurate and customers get what they pay for,” Stinziano said.
Kuhlwein’s Farm Market sells fresh produce, homemade baked goods, deli meats and cheeses, and dry goods, and is located at 1859 Walker Rd. in Brown Township near Hilliard.
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Community Hours
Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano continues to hold weekly Community Hours meetings where residents can stop by and visit, or join virtually via Facebook @mstinziano, and share firsthand their feedback and ideas about the Auditor’s office or any concerns they have.
Community Hours will be held at the dates and locations listed below.
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Thursday, December 2, 10am:
Virtual Community Hours spotlighting Pickerington
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Tuesday, December 7, 3pm-4pm:
In-Person at the New Albany Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library (Meeting Room 2), 200 Market Street, New Albany, OH 43054
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Monday, December 13, 11:30am:
Virtual Community Hours spotlighting Jefferson Township
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Monday, December 20, 3pm-4pm:
In-Person at the Harrisburg Library, 1036 High Street, Harrisburg, OH 43126
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Thursday, December 30, 1:30pm:
Virtual Community Hours spotlighting Riverlea
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