The holidays are upon us, and here at your Auditor’s office, that means one thing: Dog license season is about to begin. 

Dog Licensing season, when licenses can be purchased without incurring additional fees, kicks off on December 1 and will run through January 31. Dog licenses are available for purchase online at https://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.

In addition to being required by state law, dog licensing ensures that any lost dog is returned quickly to their owners. License fees help support the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center.

Licensing your dog is responsible pet care, so make sure your dog is licensed this holiday season.

Go Bucks!

Since taking office, Auditor Stinziano has overseen the return of $30 million to Community

The Franklin County Auditor’s office is returning $5 million to schools, libraries, parks, municipalities and agencies this November, adding up to a total $30.5 million that has been returned since Auditor Michael Stinziano took office in 2019.

Of that $30.5 million total since 2019, the office has returned $19.8 million to school districts, $2.4 million to municipalities, $1.5 million to townships, $867,456 to libraries and $5.7 million to government agencies.

Of the $5 million being returned this year, a majority of the funds – more than $3.2 million - is going to school districts across the county.

“This money has a real impact on our budget, and we appreciate the operating efficiency of the Auditor's Office which makes this possible,” said Beth Collier, Treasurer and CFO of Grandview Heights Schools.

Additionally, Franklin County cities and villages will get $438,660, townships will get $245,969, libraries and parks will get $178,357, and county agencies will get $878,079.

2024 Tax Incentive Review Council report released

The Auditor’s office has issued its 2024 Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC) Report examining how tax incentives affect the affordable housing shortage in Franklin County.

The report features analysis by expert economists who compare the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) incentives in Franklin County to six peer counties. The report finds that Columbus and Franklin County would benefit from some of the ways other areas use and regulate TIFs to promote affordable housing.

State law requires TIRCs to be held annually by every municipality that uses tax incentives to evaluate whether the incentives are performing according to their requirements. By statute, Auditor Stinziano is the chair of those TIRC meetings. There were 25 Franklin County municipalities that used tax incentives that were reviewed by TIRCs in 2024.

This is the fifth year the report has been released by your Franklin County Auditor's office. 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.

West Side Butcher/Grocery Store wins November True Transactions Award

Carniceria Brothers, a butcher and grocery store on the west side of Columbus, has won the November True Transactions Award for using accurate scales and scanners in the sale of its fresh high-quality meats and produce.

“Congratulations to the team at Carniceria, who work tirelessly to provide great meats and grocery products and services for their customers using accurate scales and scanners,” Auditor Stinziano said.

Carniceria Brothers is a family-owned business featuring fresh meats and produce and is located at 977 Harrisburg Pike on Columbus’ west side.

December 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:

• Thursday, Dec. 5 at 12:30 pm – Virtual community hours featuring Possum Holler Pizza, Obetz
• Monday, Dec. 9 at 9 am – In-person community hours at the Westerville Public Library, Pink Study Room, 126 S. State St. in Westerville
• Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 10:30 am – Virtual community hours featuring Donna’s Delicious Dozen, Columbus/Gahanna
• Friday, Dec. 27 at 9:30 am – In-person community hours at Rev Coffeehouse, 4485 Cemetery Rd. in Hilliard
•  Monday, Dec. 30 at 2 pm – Virtual community hours featuring Safari Coffee House, Columbus/Clinton Township