The Delaware County Commissioners have set the wheels in motion for a property-tax rollback that will provide relief to county property owners. At their Thursday, July 28, session, the Commissioners will consider a resolution that sets hearings on Aug. 18 and Aug. 22 to address changes in the county’s tax code.
“Their discussions about a property-tax rollback date to last year’s budget discussions,” said Delaware County Auditor George Kaitsa. “When we recently realized we also needed to update a sales-tax resolution from 1971, we felt it would be prudent to address both issues at the same time.”
The property-tax rate available for current expenses of the county is 2.8 mills and Delaware County is currently collecting 1.8 mills for current expenses. This resolution will further reduce the millage collected and will provide additional property tax relief. Kaitsa will provide estimates of the revenue reduction associated with various reductions in the property tax for consideration by the Delaware County Commissioners.
The sales-tax resolution being addressed was passed 51 years ago as an emergency measure, which doesn’t allow the county to pledge the revenues collected from the 0.5% tax toward any borrowing needed for capital projects. If approved by the Commissioners after completion of the two hearings, this update will allow the county to pledge this sales tax for future borrowing needs.
“The update will further strengthen our already strong financial position,” Kaitsa said, “and I feel confident that the Commissioners are committed to making the best use of the financial tools we have on hand.”
The Commissioners’ July 28 session begins at 9:30 a.m. and takes place in the 2nd floor Judge Henry Shaw Hearing Room of The Historic Courthouse at 91 N. Sandusky St., Delaware.