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The New Year is upon us, and soon homeowners will receive their property tax bills from the Treasurer’s office. Final property values are available on your Auditor’s office website, and a letter detailing the values has been mailed to those who participated in Property Value Reviews.
Still, there are options for any homeowners who disagree with their property value and programs to help ensure your voice is heard.
Property owners can now file a complaint with the Franklin County Board of Revision (BOR), which has the authority to change property value assessments. Complaints can be filed online at the BOR website. The deadline to file with the Board is April 1, 2024. To help homeowners navigate the process, the Auditor’s office plans to hold more than 30 walk-in clinics over the next few months at several locations across the county. Dates and times are on the Auditor’s office website.
Additionally, the Auditor’s office will once again offer the Homeowner Assistance Program, which provides legal help to lower-income homeowners who want to file complaints with the BOR. More information about HAP will be available via the Auditor’s office website.
The BOR process is yet another step to ensure homeowners are part of the Reappraisal process. To learn more about the BOR and how to file a complaint, visit their website.
Happy holidays, and I hope you and your families have a wonderful new year.
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Michael Stinziano
Franklin County Auditor |
2023 TIRC Report Examines Tax Incentive Effectiveness
The Auditor’s office has released a new 2023 Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC) Report examining the effectiveness and use of tax incentives in municipalities across Franklin County. The report includes an analysis from economists of Community Resource Area (CRA) abatements and whether they are working for our community. It also includes the results of every TIRC meeting that was held in the county evaluating every incentive in use.
TIRCs are required by state law to be held annually by every municipality that uses tax incentives to evaluate whether they are performing according to their requirements. By state law, Auditor Stinziano is the chair of those TIRC meetings. There were 23 Franklin County municipalities that used tax incentives in 2022, the year that is covered by the report.
This is the fourth year the report has been released by Auditor Stinziano. The office has also updated the Tax incentive Hub with new information on every tax incentive in use in Franklin County. The Hub uses GIS mapping to show information about the incentives.
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Money from Dollar General Settlement Distributed to Local Food Banks
Money from a legal settlement as a result of investigations into Dollar General stores by the Franklin County Auditor’s office and the Ohio Attorney General has been distributed to local food banks.
Six Franklin County food banks received $5,016.48 each as part of a legal settlement between the Attorney General’s office and Dollar General:
- All People’s Fresh Food Market, 946 Parsons Ave., Columbus
- Linden Market/Community of Caring Development Foundation, 1464 Cleveland Ave., Columbus
- Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center, 14 W. Lakeview Ave., Columbus
- Gladden Community House, 318 S. Glenwood Ave., Columbus
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Food Pantry, 409 Industry Dr., Columbus
- St. Stephen’s Community House, 1500 E. 17th Ave., Columbus
In September 2022, the Auditor’s office checked all Dollar General stores in Franklin County (outside the city of Columbus, which has its own weights and measures division), and found that 8 out of 10 failed inspection because they were charging incorrect prices. Many of the stores also failed a follow-up inspection. The Auditor’s office created a new sticker to notify consumers of the failed inspections, which was applied to the affected scanners or scales.
The failed inspections in Franklin County and in Butler County, Ohio, led the Ohio Attorney General to file suit against Dollar General in November 2022. The Attorney General and Dollar General settled the lawsuit for $1 million, most of which will be distributed to food banks across the state.
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Hollywood Feed wins December True Transactions Award
Hollywood Feed’s Worthington location won the December True Transaction Award for its stellar use of accurate scales and scanners.
“Congratulations to the team at Hollywood Feed on their spotless record of using accurate scanners and scales for their customers,” said Auditor Stinziano.
Hollywood Feed features a trained staff and a wide variety of high-quality dog and cat foods and pet care products and is based in Tennessee. It has locations in Bexley, Clintonville, Dublin, Gahanna, New Albany, Westerville, and the winning Worthington location. The Worthington Hollywood Feed is located at 910 High Street.
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January 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, January 4 at 1:30 pm – In-person community hours at Java Central Café and Roaster, 20 State St., Suite B in Westerville
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Tuesday, January 9 at 11 am – Virtual community hours featuring La Chatelaine French Bakery and Bistro, Worthington
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Wednesday, January 17 at 9 am – In-person community hours at Koffee Paradise, 6308 E. Main St., in Columbus
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Thursday, January 25 at 10 am – Virtual community hours featuring Nom Nom Nom Dog Bakery, Hilliard
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Monday, January 29 at 2 pm – In-person community hours at the Upper Arlington Public Library, Tremont Branch, Meeting Room A., 2800 Tremont Rd. in Upper Arlington
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Do you have a suggestion for your Franklin County Auditor's office? Email AuditorStinziano@franklincountyohio.gov. Our goal is to make the office accessible to YOU.
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