Ohio governor warns property tax ban could trigger major state sales tax hike

Ohio’s Republican governor is sounding the alarm over a citizen-led effort to abolish property taxes statewide, saying that doing so could force lawmakers to drastically raise other taxes to make up for a massive revenue loss.

Gov. Mike DeWine cautioned this month that eliminating property taxes, which generate roughly $24 billion annually for local governments, would leave a huge gap in funding for schools, emergency services and local infrastructure. 

A memo from the state’s Office of Budget and Management noted that this amount is equivalent to all of Ohio’s current income and sales tax revenue combined.

“If property taxes were wiped out, the state would have to find a way to replace that money,” DeWine said at a recent conference. 

He suggested that Ohio’s sales tax, now 5.75%, would need to climb between 17% and 20% if voters approve a constitutional amendment next November that would eliminate the levy.

He also warned that lawmakers would also have to consider income tax hikes without property tax revenue.