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As we enter November early voting is underway, and voters are casting ballots on the issues and candidates important to them. Your Auditor’s office is hard at work helping voters understand the importance of their vote with an updated Levy Estimator, which homeowners can use to see how a proposed levy would affect their property taxes.
In addition to a county-wide replacement levy, many municipalities and districts have put levies and bond issues on this November’s ballot, including in Columbus, Franklin Township, New Albany, Pickerington, Upper Arlington, Madison-Plains, and Worthington.
The levy estimator is an easy way to be an informed voter on the issues that will affect your pocketbook and the services you receive from government agencies and school districts.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEVY ESTIMATOR AND SEE HOW ISSUES ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT COULD IMPACT YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.
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 November general election.
Early and absentee voting began October 12 and will run through November 7. Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by election day, November 8, or dropped off at the Board of Elections office at 1700 Morse Rd. by 7:30 p.m. on November 8.
As a former Director of the Franklin County Board of Elections, I know firsthand the importance of voting and making sure your voice is heard. Go vote - our democracy depends on it. Happy election season!
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Michael Stinziano
Franklin County Auditor |
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Fresh Thyme wins October True Transactions Award
Fresh Thyme Market in Worthington has won the October True Transactions Award for its use of accurate scales and scanners in its sales of gourmet groceries.
“Kudos to the Fresh Thyme team for their outstanding use of accurate scales and scanners in the sales of fresh produce and high-quality foods,” Auditor Stinziano said. “Fresh Thyme staff work with Weights and Measures to ensure customers get every ounce of what they pay for.”
Fresh Thyme Market sells quality, hand-selected products and has several locations in central Ohio, including in Worthington, Westerville, Dublin and Gahanna. Its Worthington market is located at 933 High St.
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Neighborhood Survey: No One Knows Your Neighborhood Better Than You
As part of the 2023 Sexennial Property Reappraisal, we are asking Franklin County residents to complete this quick survey about their neighborhoods to give us the best and most accurate information possible as we work to establish the most fair and equitable property values possible.
Your Franklin County Auditor’s office in-house and contract appraisers use a variety of techniques to determine how to value neighborhoods, but are often appraising neighborhoods that are new to them.
Your participation in this survey will help us compare their work with the opinions of those who actually live in the neighborhood and will help us identify any necessary adjustments to the appraisers’ opinions. No one knows your neighborhood better than you.
To complete the Neighborhood Survey, visit:
https://www.franklincountyauditor.com/neighborhoodsurvey
Shred Hunger held in Westerville
Auditor Stinziano partnered with Sustainable Westerville and the Westerville Chamber of Commerce this past month to host Shred Hunger, a free event held in Westerville that benefited the community through e-recycling and document shredding.
Through the event, more than 325 cars passed through, recycling electronics, batteries and shredding documents. In total, 26 pallets of electronics were recycled rather than sent to landfills. In addition, the event generated 2,716 pounds of food donations and $196 in cash donations for the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM).
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Property Tax Assistance Program Now Available for Emergency, One-Time Financial Help
The Franklin County Auditor’s office is now accepting applications to the Property Tax Assistance Program (PTAP) from low-income older homeowners who need help paying their 2022 first half property taxes.
The PTAP provides emergency one-time property tax assistance to low-income homeowners age 60 or older and is a nonprofit entity. New this year, the PTAP application can now be submitted online.
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, Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, and several other partner organizations.
Applications are due by November 18, 2022. Information about the program and an application can be found on the Auditor’s office website.
The PTAP was founded in 1987 and has supported hundreds of qualifying homeowners in Franklin County.
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Employee Spotlight – Eileen Williamson
Deputy Auditor Eileen Williamson has been assisting constituents with their questions about levies, property ownership, and sometimes even directions, for almost 25 years.
Eileen joined the office’s Transfer and Conveyance department in January 1998 and has gone on to work in several roles at the Auditor’s office. She now serves in the Public Information section, where she has answered phone queries and emailed questions for 14 years.
“I love my job and treasure all the friendships I’ve made through the years,” Eileen said. “I have been able to work with many different departments such as the Treasurer, Recorder, Probate Court, Board of Revision, and I’m able to assist with manufactured homes,”
In addition to her work role, Eileen is renowned throughout the office as an outstanding baker and chef. In fact, her cakes were the coveted prize of a Franklin County Combined Charitable Campaign auction this past month.
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Franklin County Earns Highest-Possible bond Rating
Franklin County once again earned a double Triple-A bond rating from firms Moody’s Investors Service and Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings, making it just one of 2% of the nation’s 3,069 counties to enjoy this highest-possible rating. The new rating was issued last week and cited the county’s “strong financial management and resilient revenue base.”
“This yearly affirmation of the county’s excellent credit rating is a real-world testament to our sound fiscal management and strong financial track record,” said County Administrator Kenneth N. Wilson. “These ratings benefit our residents by allowing us to borrow money, such as for the recently constructed jail and forensic science center at the best possible interest rates. That also frees up more county funds for needed social services and other programs for our residents.”
A bond rating is an expression of the ratings agencies’ confidence in a local government’s ability to pay its debt obligations and manage ongoing expenditures. The low rates on bonds issued by the county last year resulted in a net present value debt service savings of approximately $7 million for county residents.
Information about the county’s budget is available at Budget.FranklinCountyOhio.gov. Franklin County Commissioners will be holding hearings to consider next year’s budget in mid-November and will stream them live so that the public may attend virtually.
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News Home Sales List by Zip Code to Be Sent to Residents
The Auditor’s office is now offering free weekly email notices of all Franklin County residential home sales listed by zip code.
The new service will replicate listings that were previously available in the Sunday newspaper using Auditor’s office real estate transaction records.
If anyone would like to be added to, or removed from, the email list for the new listings, please email the office at auditorstinziano@franklincountyohio.gov.
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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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200th Community Hours as Franklin County Auditor
Thursday, November 3 @ 2:00pm, in-person at the Hilltop YMCA, 2879 Valleyview Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43204
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Monday, November 7 @ 12:00pm, virtual featuring Harvest Moon Craft Kitchen and Canal Winchester.
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Friday, November 18 @ 1:00pm, in-person at the Dublin Branch of the Columbus Library, Study Room 1, 75 N. High Street, Dublin, Ohio 43017.
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Monday, November 21 @ 10:00am, virtual featuring Resch's Bakery and the City of Columbus.
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Tuesday, November 29 @ 2:00pm, in-person at Vick's Gourmet Pizza, 7345 E. Main Street, Reynoldburg, Ohio 43068.
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