Ohio Bill Raises Fears of Deep Cuts in Public Education Budgets
School districts across Northeast Ohio are raising urgent concerns about House Bill 335, a newly introduced proposal at the Ohio Statehouse that promises $3.5 billion in property tax relief. While the bill, named the “Property Tax Relief NOW Act,” is being promoted as a way to ease the financial burden on homeowners, educators warn that it could come at a devastating cost to public education.
At the heart of the bill is a provision to eliminate “unvoted inside millage,” a long-standing mechanism in the Ohio Constitution that allows local governments and school districts to collect up to 10 mills of property taxes without going to the ballot. This funding has been a critical and stable source of revenue for schools, especially in communities that receive limited support from the state.
“This is not just a funding cut, it’s an existential threat,” said Solon City Schools Treasurer Tim Pickana. “Some school districts live on those tax revenues because the state simply doesn’t provide enough money. We receive only 5% of our funding from the state. The rest comes from property taxes, not by choice, but by necessity.”
According to projections, Solon City Schools could lose nearly $9 million annually if HB 335 becomes law, roughly 10% of its total budget. Orange City Schools estimates a loss of around $8 million per year, or $4,000 per student. Twinsburg City Schools stand to lose nearly $6.7 million, which accounts for 11% of their operating revenue.
District leaders warn that such losses would force painful choices. Solon has already told families it would either need to propose a 5.2-mill levy or implement a school income tax between 0.5% and 0.75% to recover the lost revenue, or make deep cuts to staff, programs, and services. Orange and Twinsburg have issued similar warnings, citing possible cuts to advanced coursework, music, arts, athletics, special education, and the potential for larger class sizes.
Meanwhile, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson), argues that HB 335 is necessary to respond to record spikes in property values and taxes across the state. “We must return the power to the voters,” he said, “and give oversight to taxpayers who have been paying more because of rising values and local entities accepting unvoted millage.”
But local school officials are urging communities to look beyond the headline of tax relief and consider the long-term consequences. They fear HB 335 could be added to the state budget during behind-closed-doors negotiations before the June 30 deadline, leaving districts with little time to react.
Solon Communications Director Tamara Strom is encouraging families to contact lawmakers now. “If the state fully funded schools, this wouldn’t be necessary,” she said. “We need residents to hold their lawmakers accountable. Our schools, and our students, are depending on it.”
