May 22, 2024 — Today, the OLC testified before the Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform at the Statehouse. The committee is tasked with reviewing Ohio’s property tax system and making recommendations for possible reforms and updates to the system. OLC’s Executive Director Michelle Francis described how libraries rely on local property tax levies to keep up with inflation and the demand for services.

Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Blessing (R-Colerain Twp.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) are co-chairs of the joint committee. A final report from the committee is due to the General Assembly by Dec. 31, 2024.

During her testimony, Francis explained that local funding generated through property tax levies is critical because it remains a primary source of revenue for Ohio’s public libraries. Statewide, 49% of the total funding for libraries comes from property tax levies. The other 51% is provided by the state and is generated through the Public Library Fund (PLF).

In addition, 80% of Ohio’s public library systems (203 of 251) have a local property tax levy while 48 rely solely on their state funding as their primary source of revenue for day-to-day operations. Francis discussed the dramatic increase in library levies over the past 20 years, and that Ohioans consistently support their local libraries at the polls. She also noted the recent impact on PLF distributions as state revenues have repeatedly come in well below estimates.

Francis asked the committee to consider how changes to the property tax system will impact the operations of libraries across the state and the 7.7 million library cardholders they serve. A copy of the testimony is available on the OLC website. A recording of the hearing is available on the Ohio Channel (OLC testimony begins at the 2:06:10 mark).