WATCH: Homestead Property Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans with Charles & Susan Johnston

Fortify Geauga President Tiffanie Broadbent interviewed Charles & Susan Johnston of Ashtabula county. Charles is a disabled veteran who ran for State Central Committee in District 32. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have been working hard to bring attention to House Bill 254 and to recruit help from citizens to encourage Ohio lawmakers to act on it.

Click below to view the video

HB 254 would enhance and expand property tax reductions for disabled veterans in Ohio. Currently, disabled veterans with a total disability rating may qualify for a property tax exemption that exempts $50,000 of home value from their property tax calculation. House Bill 254 would enhance this exemption by increasing the amount of the exemption and expanding who is eligible. [From the Legislative Analysis]:

• Enhances a property tax exemption for the homestead of a totally disabled veteran by increasing the amount of the exemption for such a homestead from $50,000 of its value to its full taxable value.
• Authorizes a homestead exemption of $5,000 or $10,000 for veterans with at least a 50% but less-than-total disability rating, depending on the rating.

The bill has received three hearings so far but is currently stalled in the House Ways and Means Committee. The Johnstons are preparing to attend the next hearing in Columbus and deliver testimony in support of the bill, and they are urging their fellow citizens to be ready to do the same. It is especially important for disabled veterans and their families to testify in support of this bill to let the committee know how it would impact them. There are two ways to submit official testimony for a hearing: in person during the hearing or via email just ahead of the hearing date. As we are not yet aware of the next hearing date, please check back with FortifyGeauga.org for updates or sign up for our weekly email Newsletter. We will alert our readers when the next hearing is announced.

In the meantime, all citizens are encouraged to contact the committee members and urge them to move forward with hearings and vote on the bill. As citizens, our voices need to be heard by our legislators. Lawmakers close to Fortify Geauga suggest it is best to contact Representatives and Senators IN WRITING (email or letter) because written communication becomes part of the public record, even if it’s not official hearing testimony. Use the contact chart below to reach the committee members. See below for a sample email you can use.

Members of the House Ways and Means Committee

Sample email for committee members

You can copy and paste the following or simply use it as inspiration for your own message. In the subject line, enter “In Support of House Bill 254.” If you use the links in the chart above, you can quickly enter your name and contact information and then paste your message in the message box.

Dear Representative,
I am writing to urge you to please do all you can to forward the discussion and vote on House Bill 254 in the House Ways and Means Committee. As Ohioans and Americans, we must in good conscience do all we can to repay the debt we all owe to our disabled veterans. Ohio should be known as a place where veterans receive the respect, care, compassion, and assistance they need and deserve. Please help make that a reality by quickly advancing this bill.
Thank you for all you do,
[your name]