Protect Public Safety and Community Resilience
Tell Lawmakers: Do Not Override the Governor’s Vetoes

The Ohio House is expected to vote Monday, July 21 on whether to override Governor DeWine’s vetoes of key budget items that directly impact local funding and public safety.  Below are the three items that were vetoed and are being discussed:

Property Tax: County Budget Commission Authority & Procedure: This item gives county budget commissions the authority to unilaterally reduce a levy passed by voters for a school district or other taxing authority under certain circumstances. This breaches the approval of such millage by the voters. Further, this item requires the Ohio Department of Taxation to calculate tax rates for certain fixed-sum levies that are currently addressed by county officials at the county level. The tax commissioner does not receive sufficient information from county auditors to calculate these rates and the timelines in this item would result in delays to taxpayers regarding their tax information for proper filing. Therefore, the partial veto of this item is in the public interest.

20-Mill Floor Calculation: This item requires that emergency and substitute tax levies, incremental growth levies, conversion levies, and the property tax portion of combined income tax and property tax levies be included in the 20-mill floor calculation for school funding purposes. The DeWine-Tressel Administration recognizes the great need for property tax reform in Ohio and will convene a working group that will include legislators, agency officials, school officials, community members, and property tax experts to ensure this critical topic is given the attention deserved. Therefore, a veto of this item is in the public interest.

School District Property Tax Levy Restrictions: This item eliminates the authority for political subdivisions to levy replacement property tax levies and the authority for school districts to levy fixed-sum emergency, substitute emergency levies, and combined school district income tax and fixed-sum property tax levies. These levies serve as important tools for school districts as they seek to maintain their long-term financial stability. The DeWine-Tressel Administration recognizes the great need for property tax reform in Ohio and will convene a working group that will include legislators, agency officials, school officials, community members, and property tax experts to ensure this critical topic is given the attention deserved. Therefore, the veto of this item is in the public interest.

As Emergency Management Directors, you understand how critical stable, predictable funding is to maintain readiness and protect communities. The Governor’s vetoes uphold:

• Sound fiscal planning for essential public services
• Local authority over budgets and levies
• Reliable funding for emergency response and preparedness

Overriding these vetoes would:

• Force communities into frequent levy cycles, increasing costs and voter fatigue
• Strip local governments of flexibility, hampering emergency response planning
• Jeopardize essential public safety services, including fire, EMS, and disaster response
• Disrupt coordination and delay action, especially during crises

Governor DeWine’s vetoes reflect balanced, informed governance—not rushed policies that weaken public safety infrastructure.

Act Now

Tell your State Representative: Protect Ohio communities. Uphold the Governor’s vetoes.

Contact your Representative today: https://www.ohiohouse.gov