GOSHEN TOWNSHIP – The board of trustees discussed potential impacts of losing access to property tax revenue in its meeting Tuesday.

Trustee John Bricker said he, trustee Shawn Mesler and fiscal officer Michele Barratt had attended the Ohio Township Association Conference and had the opportunity to hear Gov. Mike DeWine discuss ongoing efforts to abolish property tax in the state. Bricker said that there is currently no clear answer to how local governments, including emergency services like police, fire, and EMS, would be funded if property tax were abolished.

“There’s a lot of talk about it; a lot of people want it done. Nobody has an answer for if they do abolish it, where the money is going to come from to fund our road department, our police department and our fire department, and nobody at the state level will commit to anything or give us any type of answer,” said Bricker.

While nothing is currently set in stone, Bricker said one of the possibilities being considered is major spikes in both income and sales tax statewide. He explained that DeWine said the state’s current 2.75% income tax, currently the second lowest among states which collect income tax, could rise as high as 11% to 15%. This would be paired with an increase in states’ sales tax from the current 5.75% to 15 % to 18% and the discontinuance of tax-exempt status for food products.

“That’s just what the governor’s quick numbers were, but if you think people are upset about groceries now,” said Bricker.

Bricker also said that the abolishment of property tax would likely lead to the dissolution of many local governmental agencies like those in Goshen Township leaving all maintenance and municipal services to be overseen by the county.

Barratt also highlighted that even if income and sales tax increases were implemented to counteract the loss of property taxes, there would be no guaranteed funding for townships, as all funding generated by tax revenue would have to be distributed by the state directly.

“If they were to do this, my job would probably be gone. There’d be no money for the townships, and the county would have to figure everything out,” said Bricker.

“If they went to those two other taxes, there would be nothing guaranteed for the townships. Columbus would distribute that however they want. Property taxes are guaranteed,” said Barratt.

The board of trustees will meet next at 6 p.m. on March 10.