RE: Community Update: Your Voice Matters on House Bill 96 (HB-96)
November 14, 2025
Dear Kenston Community,
Kenston Local Schools has actively shared feedback with Geauga County Commissioner Carolyn Brakey and County Auditor Charles Walder regarding Ohio’s proposed House Bill 96 (HB-96). While HB-96 aims to provide tax relief for homeowners and farmers, one key component, a "piggyback tax exemption,” could create a substantial funding gap for local schools and public services (emergency services, libraries, parks, and other county-funded services).
This creates severe concern for our district because the state has not identified options for replacement funding. We believe this proposal is short-sighted because it focuses solely on short-term tax relief without a plan for the long-term financial stability of our educational system.
We have prided ourselves on the fact that we have not asked our community for an operating levy for over 15 years, even with the state’s extreme shift in financial burden from the state to residents. Ohio residents used to pay around 40% of the tax burden, yet today, they pay nearly 70% of the property taxes that fund schools. This is a complete failure to fund our schools and services.
We understand that rising property tax bills are a concern for many families. While recent legislative discussions in the Ohio House aim to provide a much-needed relief, a proposal to eliminate property taxes altogether poses a serious threat to school funding and the vital community services we have come to expect.
We fully understand and support the need for meaningful property tax relief for our residents. However, we are concerned that the local funding structure proposed by HB-96, specifically the "piggyback" tax exemption, could unintentionally burden local taxing entities, especially public schools, without any state reimbursement to offset the revenue loss.
