Ohio Voters Could See Ballot Measure to Abolish Property Taxes

Grassroots effort aims to eliminate property taxes statewide, sparking debate over funding for local services

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:53pm

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A group of Ohio residents has launched a campaign to put a measure on the November 2026 ballot that would eliminate property taxes across the state. The effort, led by Brian Massie and Leonard Gilbert, started as a push to ease the tax burden for senior citizens but has expanded to call for the complete abolition of property taxes. While proponents argue property taxes are unfair and pricing people out of their homes, opponents warn the move would have a 'catastrophic' impact on essential local services like schools, police, and fire departments, particularly in rural areas.

Why it matters

The push to abolish property taxes in Ohio is part of a broader national debate over the role and fairness of property taxes. Proponents argue property taxes are an unfair burden, especially for seniors and low-income residents, while opponents warn that eliminating this major revenue source would devastate local budgets and services. The outcome of this ballot measure could set a precedent and inspire similar efforts in other states.

The details

The effort to abolish property taxes in Ohio was started by Brian Massie of Concord Township and Leonard Gilbert of Mentor, who co-chair the Committee to Abolish Property Taxes. They initially focused on eliminating property taxes for senior citizens, but later expanded their goal to the complete elimination of property taxes statewide. The organizers argue that property taxes unfairly tax 'unrealized gains' on homes and that voters don't fully understand the relationship between levies and property tax rates. They believe the state budget has enough funds to compensate for the estimated $24 billion in lost revenue from eliminating property taxes, though state officials warn of 'catastrophic' impacts on local services.

  • The petition drive to get the measure on the November 2026 ballot is currently underway, with organizers needing over 400,000 signatures.
  • If the measure passes, property taxes would continue to be collected for one year after the vote to allow the state legislature time to find alternative funding sources.

The players

Brian Massie

Co-chair of the Committee to Abolish Property Taxes and a resident of Concord Township, Ohio.

Leonard Gilbert

Co-chair of the Committee to Abolish Property Taxes and a resident of Mentor, Ohio.

Mike DeWine

Governor of Ohio, who has warned that abolishing property taxes would require dramatic increases in state sales or income taxes.

John Plecnik

A Cleveland State University professor who specializes in taxes and believes completely eliminating property taxes would be 'catastrophic'.

David Thomas

An Ohio state representative who sponsored recent property tax relief legislation, which the organizers view as 'too little too late'.

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What they’re saying

“'I get these gut-wrenching phone calls where people have spent their lives in their homes, some of them built by hand, and you go to these people and you look at how much money they are bringing in but you look at the increase in their taxes and, I'm thinking, wait a minute, they can't do this.'”

— Leonard Gilbert, Co-chair, Committee to Abolish Property Taxes

“'We are not anarchists. We are not saying we don't want to pay our taxes. I'll pay taxes for services rendered, just don't tie it to my house. That's my house.'”

— Leonard Gilbert, Co-chair, Committee to Abolish Property Taxes

“'You know, the number one question we get is … 'how are you going to replace all of these property taxes anywhere from 20 to 24 billion that we have heard?' And our first answer is: we're not going to replace it. What we are looking for is we are looking for government to be cut their spending – cut spending is what we are pushing for.'”

— Brian Massie, Co-chair, Committee to Abolish Property Taxes

What’s next

The organizers need to collect over 400,000 signatures by the deadline to get the measure on the November 2026 ballot. If it passes, the state legislature will have one year to find alternative funding sources before property taxes are fully eliminated.

The takeaway

The push to abolish property taxes in Ohio highlights the ongoing debate over the fairness and role of this revenue source. While proponents argue property taxes are unfair and pricing people out of their homes, opponents warn that eliminating this major funding source would have devastating impacts on essential local services. The outcome of this ballot measure could set an important precedent and inspire similar efforts in other states.