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With early voting for the May primary already underway, there are several levies and bond issues on the ballot that could potentially impact Franklin County residents and the community. As a former Director of the Board of Elections, I know how important it is that voters understand the issues they’re voting on, and how it will affect them, their services and their property taxes.
Your Franklin County Auditor’s office offers an intuitive, updated tool that can help residents understand how their property taxes will be affected by those ballot issues: the Levy Estimator. To use the Levy Estimator, visit franklincountyauditor.com/levyestimator.
After selecting your home’s location or entering a parcel number, the estimator will show both your current and estimated taxes if a levy or bond issue in your jurisdiction passes in the May primary.
Issues are on the ballot in Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights, Whitehall, Jefferson Township, Franklin Township and Mifflin Township.
Early and absentee voting runs through May 2. As a reminder, mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by May 2, or dropped off at the Board of Elections office at 1700 Morse Rd. by 7:30 p.m. on May 3, primary election day.
Election day is May 3, and polls across the county will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. For more information about voting and early voting hours, visit the Board of Elections website.
Elections matter, and I encourage every qualified voter to go vote and make sure your voice is heard this primary election season.
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Michael Stinziano
Franklin County Auditor |
Auditor's Office to host Shred Hunger Event on Saturday, April 30th
The Auditor’s office is partnering with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) and St. Stephen’s Community House to hold “Shred Hunger,” an event that offers free document shredding and electronic waste recycling services and also accepts donations of food for the St. Stephens Food and Nutrition Center.
Residents are invited to bring their unwanted paper documents and electronics to St. Stephen’s Community House, 1500 E. 17th Ave., on April 30 from 1 pm to 4 pm to have them collected and recycled in a safe, secure, and environmentally friendly way. This drive-through style event will take place in the parking lot of St. Stephen’s Community House, with staff and volunteers on site to direct the flow of traffic and assist with vehicle unloading.
Among the materials that are accepted for e-recycling are: computers, laptops, tablets, monitors, cellphones, MP3 players, printers, copiers, printer cartridges, fax machines, VCRs, DVD players, LCD TVs, cameras, batteries of any kind, cables, hard drives, keyboards, and mice.
Household appliances, vacuum cleaners, lamps, and lightbulbs are not accepted.
Participants are also encouraged to bring nonperishable food and household items for donation to the St. Stephen’s. In particular, the organization is currently in need of soup, canned fruits and vegetables, oatmeal, cereal, pasta, condiments, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and laundry detergent.
Click here for additional information via our Facebook event.
 Affordable Housing Resource Fair on Saturday, May 14th
The Auditor’s office will be holding an Affordable Housing Resource Fair on May 14 to promote affordable, accessible, and high-quality housing and social services. Attendees will be able to take advantage of resources offered by more than 30 community housing and social support organizations as well as on various family-friendly arts, crafts, and interactive activities. Several banks will also be present with information on mortgages and other financial information.
The fair will be held at the Westgate Community Center, 455 S. Westgate Ave. in Columbus, on Saturday, May 14 from 1 pm to 4 pm. All are welcome to attend.
Click here for additional information via our Facebook event.
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Employee Spotlight - Jakki Federer
One of the Auditor’s office employees who helps get information for the Levy Estimator is Jakki Federer, who as Settlement Officer helps estimate how much upcoming levies on the ballot will cost.
Jakki is also responsible for distributing tax funds to every municipality in the county and working with the State of Ohio and municipalities to set the tax rates annually for the county. She also assists Auditor Stinziano with refunding millions of dollars annually to local schools, governments and libraries that is collected, by law, for real estate reappraisals.
“My favorite part of my job is assisting our Fiscal Officers of the local governments we deal with on a daily basis, and helping make their jobs easier by finding ways to improve the way we get information to them,” she said. “I like sharing knowledge so everyone has a better understanding of what’s happening and why.”
Jakki joined the office in 1995 and just celebrated her 27th anniversary of working at the Auditor’s office.
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Auditor's Office Teams Up with Columbus Clippers for Puppypalooza
Puppies and their owners from across Franklin County descended on Huntington Park this week for Nationwide Pet Insurance Puppypalooza, a chance to watch the Columbus Clippers play the Louisville Bats and also get information on dog licensing from Auditor Stinziano.
The event featured a reserved section in the ballpark for dogs and their owners, a dog parade on the field and a video welcome on the scoreboard from the Auditor.
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. It also ensures any lost dog is returned quickly to their owners. License fees help support the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center.
Though the deadline to license dogs was March 31, dog licenses may be purchased for an additional fee 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.
The Auditor’s office will also be present at a second Nationwide Pet Insurance Puppypalooza at Huntington Park that will be held September 14, 2022.
Green Earth Recycling wins April True Transactions Award
In celebration of Earth Day this month, Green Earth Recycling in Brice won the April True Transactions Award for its spotless record of using of accurate scales and scanners in recycling metals from the public.
“Congratulations to Green Earth Recycling and their outstanding team on their record of using accurate scales in recycling metals and other materials,” Stinziano said. “Green Earth works proactively with Weights and Measures inspectors to ensure accurate scales, a sign of a great local business.”
Green Earth is a family-owned business and is one of central Ohio’s premier recycling facilities. It is located at 2932 Brice Rd., Building #9, in Brice.
 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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5/3/2022 at 11am, virtual community hours featuring Jackson Township and 3 Brothers Diner
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5/9/2022 at 11am, in-person community hours at Bexley Coffee Shop – 492 N Cassady Ave Bexley, OH 43209
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5/19/2022 at 10am, in-person community hours at Old Worthington Library – Cardinal Study Room – 820 High St Worthington, OH 43085
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5/25/2022 at 3pm, virtual community hours featuring Sharon Township and Schneider’s Bakery
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