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LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners issued more American Rescue Act Plan funds Tuesday, including money for the East Washington Street paving project in Lisbon and funds for aerial flyovers to prepare for the next property reappraisal.
"Hopefully they won't hurt us as bad as last time," Commissioner Mike Halleck said regarding the property reappraisal.
The last property reappraisal, which the county is mandated to do by the Ohio Department of Taxation every six years, saw large increases for some taxpayers, resulting in higher property tax bills for them.
The ARPA expense was listed as Eagleview for $267,158 for aerial photos for the reappraisal. When contacted about the expense, county Auditor Nancy Gause Milliken said this contract will cover aerial flyovers in the fall of 2025 and the spring of 2026 for the reappraisal that has to be completed by 2028 for tax year 2029.
The reappraisal takes into consideration whether there's been new construction or any demolition on a property and looks at what properties in the area have been selling for on the open market. The county is required by law to base taxes on the value of a home so if the value goes up, the tax also goes up.
Milliken said the auditor's office is currently preparing for this year's triennial update, which is done by the state every three years and looks at home values based on sales. Any changes resulting from the triennial update will affect next year's tax bills.
During the commissioners' meeting, there was a short discussion about property taxes. Halleck has said in the past and repeated at this meeting that changes are needed. At a previous meeting, he made a comment about the state's system of property taxes being unsustainable long term.
Commissioner Roy Paparodis said there are people selling their properties because they can't pay the taxes.
The ARPA expense for the village of Lisbon was listed as $95,759 toward the paving project for East Washington Street.
In other business, commissioners declared June 22, which is this Saturday, as Annual Amateur Radio Operators' Appreciation Day. The proclamation said that June 22 has been designated as amateur radio field day for emergency communications preparedness exercises.
"Ohio has more than 28,000 licensed amateur radio operators, many of whom have provided valuable public assistance through emergency radio communications on a local, statewide, national and international basis in time of need," the proclamation said.
The commissioners also granted permission for county Engineer Bert Dawson to advertise for bids for the Bonesville School Road bridge replacement project in Fairfield Township. Online bids will be opened on July 17 at the engineer's office.
In other matters, commissioners adopted resolutions for applying for the Program Year 2024 Community Housing Impact and Preservation Program Grant through the Ohio Department of Development, for the alternative method of apportionment for the Local Government Fund 2025 distribution and granted permission for Michael Husk of Hanoverton to hunt on the county's County Home Road property.
The commissioners moved their meeting this week due to the courthouse and county offices being closed on Wednesday for the Juneteenth holiday.
The next meeting of county commissioners will be 9 a.m. June 26 at the downtown courthouse.