Property tax, mortgage relief package introduced by Ohio lawmakers

A new bill introduced in the Ohio Senate would create a grant program to help older and disabled homeowners cover the cost of their property taxes, mortgages and essential household bills. Senate Bill 255 — dubbed the “Save the Dream Ohio” program — would allow qualifying homeowners to apply for up to $3,000 per year in grants to help cover monthly housing costs as well as a wide range of utilities and fees. The assistance could be used for basics like gas, electricity, water, trash removal and internet, as well as property taxes, insurance premiums and homeowners association fees. To qualify, applicants must live in Ohio, own their home and meet two requirements: Have an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less in their most recent tax year. Be at least 65 years old, living with a disability or caring for someone with a disability. The program would be run by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, which could use up to $10 million of its available funds to administer the grants. Lawmakers wrote the bill so that the grants would not be subject to the agency’s usual income limits, making the program accessible to more residents. Eligible homeowners may apply for multiple grants during the year — but the total amount they receive must not exceed $3,000 annually. If passed, the housing finance agency would also be required to adopt rules to determine how residents can apply and how disabilities or caregiving responsibilities will be verified. Recent efforts to abolish property taxes in Ohio have been met with opposition due to apprehension toward state funding replacement plans for municipalities and public schools — as well as possible destabilization of local emergency services.