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As family and friends gather to celebrate the new year, your Franklin County Auditor’s office has been busy across the county making sure our canine best friends are safe and licensed this festive holiday season.
Dog license renewal season is fully underway, and owners have through March 31 to purchase their one-year, three-year or permanent dog license without penalty. This year the office has once again extended the deadline to renew by two months to make getting a license more convenient for Franklin County dog owners.
This marks the third year the license deadline has been extended, after your Franklin County Auditor's office worked with County Commissioners on a 2020 pilot project to extend the deadline and increase the rate of licensing. After the March 31 deadline, licensing staff will examine how effective the lengthened renewal period has been in increasing licensing.
Extending the license renewal period is just one way we are working to make the process easier. Our staff also have had an extensive presence at multiple pet stores and events around the community, offering licensing services, resources and information.
Dog licensing is responsible pet care, and ensures that if your dog is ever lost, they can be returned quickly to you. License fees also help support the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center and their extensive canine services. Licenses can always 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. Owners can also change addresses, download forms and update dog information via the online licensing system.
The Auditor’s office is doing everything possible to make dog licensing easy and convenient for Franklin County residents, from the deadline extension to multiple events that offer licensing services. I hope everyone – and everyone’s canine friends – have a wonderful new year.
Happy New Year!
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Michael Stinziano
Franklin County Auditor |
Staff Spotlight – Licensing Supervisor Shannon Christian
As dog license renewal season kicks off, one of the Auditor’s office staff helping dog owners purchase licenses is Consumer Services Division, Licensing Section Supervisor Shannon Christian. She joined the office’s Real Estate Division in 1998 and became supervisor of Licensing in 2017.
The licensing section handles dog licenses, but it also handles cigarette dealer licenses, vendor licenses, and junk yard licenses (there is only one in Franklin County). Shannon’s favorite is dog licenses.
“We get a lot of phone calls where customers like to talk about their dogs. I really enjoy their stories. I absolutely love doing events where there are a lot of dogs that I can get my hands on, like Puppypalooza, Wag! Fest and the Dublin Pet Fair.”
Shannon leads a licensing team of 3, who in addition to staffing the licensing counter on the 21st floor, can also be found at events across Franklin County offering licensing services and pet care resources.
Board of Revision Now Accepting Complaints
The Board of Revision (BOR) is now accepting complaints from property owners who disagree with the appraised value of their homes for tax year 2021. The Board is also accepting COVID-19-related complaints from small business owners who believe the pandemic has changed the value of their property.
Property owners who wish to file a complaint can e-file via the Board of Revision’s website, which also features information about the filing process. Complaints can also be filed by email, mail or fax. The deadline to file is March 31, 2022.
After filing a complaint, the BOR will set a virtual hearing at which the property owner can present evidence that supports their opinion of the property value, such as a private appraisal, evidence of detrimental property conditions, a comparable sale from the last two years, or sales documentation (purchase contract and/or settlement statement) if the property was recently purchased.
Because of the pandemic, the BOR will continue to hold hearings virtually via Zoom. The BOR will also be hosting multiple educational events around Franklin County in the coming months. Locations and times are still being determined.
For a second year, the Board also plans to launch the Homeowner Assistance Program, which is designed to help low-to-moderate income homeowners file complaints about the value of their homes. Additional details of the program will be forthcoming.
Honey Baked Ham’s Gahanna Store wins December True Transactions Award
Honey Baked Ham in Gahanna has won the December True Transactions Award for its flawless record of using accurate scales and scanners in its sales of high-quality smoked and cured hams and turkeys.
“Honey Baked Ham’s Gahanna staff operates an outstanding store for their customers using accurate scales and scanners,” Stinziano said. “Their staff works diligently with Weights and Measures to ensure their scales are accurate and customers get what they pay for.”
Since 1957 Honey Baked Ham has produced high-quality smoked ham using a special curing and cooking procedure that creates a one-of-a-kind taste. Their Gahanna store is located at 1394 Cherry Bottom Rd.
Property Tax Assistance Program sees Overwhelming Demand
The Auditor’s office has seen overwhelming demand for the Property Tax Assistance Program (PTAP), which helps qualifying lower-income homeowners age 60 and over and permanently disabled homeowners with one-time emergency assistance in paying their property tax.
Applications are no longer being accepted following the December 20 deadline for assistance with the first half of 2021 property taxes.
New this year, Franklin County Commissioners partnered with Auditor Stinziano to provide $80,000 in funding for PTAP so the program can help more older homeowners pay their taxes. Additionally, Auditor’s office staff have made charitable donations to support the program.
Previously, the program had been funded solely by private donations. The Auditor’s office has administered the program since 2019.
PTAP applications are reviewed by a Board that includes the Franklin County Auditor’s office, Franklin County Treasurer’s office, Franklin County Office on Aging, and Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging.
The PTAP was founded in 1987 and has supported hundreds of qualifying homeowners in Franklin County.
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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Monday, January 3, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm: In-person at the Columbus Metropolitan Library Karl Road Branch, 5590 Karl Rd., Columbus, OH 43229
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Wednesday, January 12, 11:30 am: Virtual Community Hours spotlighting Norwich Township and New Grounds Coffee House, 6318 Scioto Darby Rd., Hilliard, OH 43026
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Thursday, January 20, 10 am -11 am: In-person at the Upper Arlington Library Tremont Road Branch, Meeting Room C, 2800 Tremont Rd., Upper Arlington, OH 43221
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Tuesday, January 25, 12 pm: Virtual Community Hours spotlighting Madison Township and Harvest Moon Craft Kitchen, 7 N. High St. Canal Winchester, OH 43110
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