Local

Cutting red tape, property taxes for tornado victims

BEAVERCREEK — Charlotte and Jim Lynch’s Beavercreek home was damaged so badly in the Memorial Day, 2019 tornadoes that it had to be demolished. They are relieved that now their new home, on the same spot as the old one, is almost complete.

“The level of relief is beyond words. We’ve been thankful and praising God every step of the way. It’s been a long 21 months,” Charlotte Lynch said.

Only months after the storm did they learn they could have their property taxes reduced dramatically because their once neat-as-a-pin home was now reduced to rubble. They filled out the required paperwork and sent it off to the County Auditor for re-evaluation. Dealing with the government red tape was worth it, producing a major cost savings.

“After 21 months we’re into about $5,000 to $7,000, which is huge when you are trying to pay for repairs on a facility,” Charlotte said.

Greene County Auditor David Graham says the problem is most people are not aware that they can have their taxes adjusted after a major storm damages their home. Also, even if the county were to try to advise people of the possible reduction, it is extremely difficult to find them.

“Its is real hard to reach them when the only information we have is their mailing address,” Graham said.

After the 2019 tornado, some homes had no mail box and some properties were left with nothing but debris.

>> 3 ice fishermen rescued after 2 fall through ice in Tipp City

In response, Graham is seeking passage of a bill at the Ohio Statehouse that permits county auditors to take it upon themselves to adjust the property valuations down after a major storm until the homes can be rebuilt. It cuts red tape, makes the tax reduction process much faster and does not rely on the property owner to ask for the reduction. The first version of the bill was introduced in the last legislative session by Rep. Rick Perales, R- Beavercreek and passed the Ohio House.

The proposal, though, ran out of time at the end of 2020 and did not pass the Ohio Senate. Perales left the Legislature after being term limited and is now a Greene County Commissioner. The new Representative for the district, Brian Lampton, re-introduced the bill. Lampton’s bill, HB 51, passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee this week. He is optimistic it can win full approval by both the House and Senate this year.

“Hopefully we can get it across the finish line this time,” Lampton said.

Charlotte Lynch, who as a teenager survived the 1974 Xenia tornado, supports any effort to help storm victims, saying “The last thing somebody is thinking about in a disaster is what their property taxes are going to be.”

Lampton’s bill would cover all types of damage to homes including tornado damage, floods, fire, anything that would dramatically influence their value. The valuation would later be adjusted back up when the home is repaired or rebuilt.

0
Comments on this article