June 4, 2008
Here's a recent response from the Auditor to an inquiring constituent:
Thanks for your note on the Rental Registration Form. Our office doesn’t do “taxes”. We set values. We are currently completing the triennial update of values which will be effective with the first tax bill next year. We can’t do “something now” as you would like as the county-wide reappraisals are only done every three years by state law and order of the State Tax Commissioner.
We have to set values to current market and whether or not your new value – up, down or sideways - will result in any kind of a “reduction in taxes” is not at all certain. The same state-mandated millage adjustments that worked to maintain the same proceeds from most voted taxes during periods of increasing values will work the other way during periods of declining values.
Most importantly, a majority of Cincinnati school district voters passed a significant property tax levy last spring. This – as well as a majority of City Council’s plans to take back the reduction on their charter millage – will assuredly raise City of Cincinnati taxes next year. Don’t blame me for higher taxes when people vote big levies and their elected representatives on City Council stick them with what amounts to an unvoted tax increase.
June 4, 2008
The 2008 deadline to apply for the Homestead reduction for seniors and those who are permanently and totally disabled was Monday, June 2. If you applied and qualified, you will first see the credit on your January, 2009 tax bill (billing is one year behind the tax year). If your Homestead application was denied, you will receive a denial letter from us by the first Monday in October, 2008.
If you missed the deadline, don’t despair! Check out the Homestead homepage for information about applying as a late filer for tax year 2008 when you file a timely application for 2009. 2009 Homestead applications will be available to download on January 5, 2009.
Questions about Homestead? Please call (513) 946-4099.
May 27, 2008
A little less than one year ago, we launched the expenditure search feature of the Auditor’s website. We wanted you to see how we spend public money in the administration and management of the Auditor’s office. Check it out. Similar to a bank statement, this report lists the warrants for all Auditor expenditures issued by the Accounts Payable Division of the Auditor’s office, along with the date of payment, the amount, to whom payment was made, the expenditure type, a brief description of the expenditure and the document number. From our homepage, go to “search” and click on “expenditure search”. You can view Auditor’s office expenditures starting with July 2007.
May 5, 2008
There’s a new feature on our website to help you calculate simple transfer fees. The transfer fee calculator can be accessed under “Departments”, “Property Transfers”, “Transfer & Conveyance Fee Calculator”.
March 18, 2008
Our office is currently working on the triennial update of values, by order of the State Tax Commissioner. After he approves our completed work sometime in the fall, the new values will be effective with the first tax bill in 2009 and reflect values as of the tax lien date of January 1, 2008. The update will report current market conditions and property owners will receive written notice of their new market value in December.
March 18, 2008
We often receive inquiries from people researching businesses registered or incorporated in Ohio. The best research source is the website of Jennifer Brunner, Ohio Secretary of State.
March 18, 2008
The fact that property tax levies approved by the voters on March 4 will be effective with the first tax bill next January has raised some questions. Since the property tax year is always a year behind the calendar, people wonder how a levy passed in 2008 can be collected next year. The answer: that is what state law allows, provided the taxing authority has authorized collection in the upcoming year. The bottom line is that there will be significant tax increases next year in districts which passed a new or increased tax levy this year because of the voters' decision.
March 4, 2008
We often receive calls questioning our office about higher taxes after voters pass tax levies. All property tax levies approved by the voters on Tuesday will be effective with the first tax bill next January. That means there will be significant tax increases in those districts – as a result of the voters’ decision.
March 4, 2008
You can check prior real estate tax payments on our website on the “payments” tab for a specific parcel. If you need a copy of a prior bill, contact the County Treasurer at 946-4800.
March 4, 2008
Today, Tuesday March 4th is Election Day in Ohio. Make sure you set aside some time to vote. Polls are open 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Your vote does make a difference. Be part of history in the making.
February 15, 2008
Many citizens who have already qualified for Homestead will receive Homestead Continuing Applications from us within the next few days. Current Ohio law requires that these be sent. Please DO NOT complete or return the form to us UNLESS YOUR HOMESTEAD ELIGIBILITY HAS CHANGED. If your situation is status quo (you still own and occupy the same home), you do not need to do a thing! And if you do not receive a form at all, do not worry. Not all Homesteaders are scheduled to receive them at this time
January 22, 2008
We are receiving questions about the unvoted property tax increase placed on Oak Hills School District property owners by the Oak Hills School Board last year. District property owners can see how much more they are paying by going to the “levy tab” for their property. Just use the property search feature in the upper left corner here on our homepage. Additional questions and comments should be directed to the Oak Hills School Board which enacted this unvoted property tax increase.
January 8, 2008
The Auditor’s office will be closed on Monday, January 21st, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.
January 8, 2008
The Homestead credit appears in the CALCULATIONS box on the left side of your tax bill, about a third of the way down the page. The line item is simply called “Homestead.” The full year reduction is shown but only half of that is credited on this bill. The remainder will come off your June tax bill.
If you applied and did not receive a denial letter, but no Homestead credit shows on your bill, we want to work with you to solve any problems immediately! We have set up a special email address to provide quick service. Please email us at Homestead@auditor.hamilton-co.org. Let us know your name and your parcel number or correct address, and the best way to contact you. One of our Homestead representatives will research your concern and get back to you as quickly as possible by telephone or email. Or you may call us at 946-4099 and we will return your call as soon as possible.
January 2, 2008
Answers to some FAQs: The County Treasurer will mail tax bills after the first of the year with payment due January 31st. If you have concerns about your Homestead status after receiving your tax bill, call 946-4099. 2008 Dog Licenses must be purchased by January 31st. All owners of residential rental property must file a Residential Rental Property Registration form with the Auditor’s office.
December 20, 2007
I wish you a happy, healthy holiday season filled with hope and blessings.
The Auditor’s office will be closed on Monday December 24th and Tuesday December 25th so our employees may celebrate Christmas with their families. Web updates that would normally occur on those days will display sometime later in the week.
December 5, 2007
It is dog license time again. Those who currently own licensed dogs will be receiving courtesy
renewal notices in the mail in the next week or so. The license renewal period extends through the
last day of January. A license costs $13 by mail. You can also buy a dog license at neighborhood
vendors for $13.00 plus a 75 cent agent fee. Check out our dog license pages for more information
and for a downloadable license application. If you are contemplating adding a dog to your household,
consider adopting a dog from your local humane society. At most humane societies, such as the SPCA
Cincinnati, you can also buy your dog’s license.
December 3, 2007
The Property Search map pages will be unavailable December 3rd and December 4th. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
November 21, 2007
The Hamilton County Auditor’s office will be closed on Thursday November22nd and Friday November 23rd in observance of Thanksgiving. We wish you a very blessed and bountiful holiday with your friends and family.
November 6, 2007
he Auditor's office will be closed on Monday, November 12th in observance of Veteran's Day. Please take time to honor those who have served and are currently serving our country.
November 6, 2007
We often receive phone calls from the public when a sold sign appears in front of a property, wanting to know the sale details. We are not privy to the information until the conveyance documents are filed with our office. Also, if you have had a recent closing and the transfer is not reflected on the Auditor’s website within a reasonable period of time, you should contact the person who handled the closing to make sure the transfer was filed with our office.
November 5, 2007
We often receive phone calls from the public when a sold sign appears in front of a property, wanting to know the sale details. We are not privy to the information until the conveyance documents are filed with our office. Also, if you have had a recent closing and the transfer is not reflected on the Auditor’s website within a reasonable period of time, you should contact the person who handled the closing to make sure the transfer was filed with our office.
October 12, 2007
Just a reminder: Ohio law now requires all owners of Hamilton County residential rental property to register a contact agent for each rental property with the County Auditor within 60 days after a conveyance form is filed. We are notifying all new property owners in the conveyance verification letter we send, as well as providing notice to all those who file conveyances with our transfer desk. There will also be a notice in the January tax bill. Ohio law includes a penalty assessment of up to $150 against any rental property not in compliance.
October 2, 2007
The application period for Homestead is now closed.
The response to the expanded Homestead law has been amazing! We have received more than 30,000 applications. We are processing them as quickly as we can while also responding to and assisting our customers. Our primary concern, naturally, is making sure we get folks on the program so that they get their tax savings!
Under Ohio law, the County Treasurer will let you know if you have been approved for Homestead by showing the amount of your tax reduction on the first tax bill you receive for payment in 2008. Look for your credit in the “Calculations” box on your bill. If you do not receive a tax bill (perhaps your bill goes to escrow), the Treasurer will send you a letter advising that you have been approved for Homestead.
After we data enter your application, the summary page for your parcel will display a notice in red saying we have received and accepted your application.
Check out the Homestead page for more information.
August 31, 2007
The response to the expanded Homestead law has been amazing! We have received more than 30,000 applications. We are processing them as quickly as we can while also responding to and assisting our customers. Our primary concern, naturally, is making sure we get folks on the program so that they get their tax savings!
Under Ohio law, the County Treasurer will let you know if you have been approved for Homestead by showing the amount of your tax reduction on the first tax bill you receive for payment in 2008. Look for your credit in the “Calculations” box on your bill. If you do not receive a tax bill (perhaps your bill goes to escrow), the Treasurer will send you a letter advising that you have been approved for Homestead.
Don’t forget to get your Homestead application to us by October 1! Check out the Homestead page for more information.
August 31, 2007
When you read in the paper or hear on the news that a particular tax levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 market value home a certain amount of money in taxes, please know that the Auditor’s Finance Department, Budget and Settlement division, formally prepared those calculations as required by law. Unfortunately, some members of the news media fail to give proper attribution by not naming the true source of this work product, allowing people to believe that the media somehow did the calculations. These are not simple calculations and our office takes great pride in being accurate in this work.
August 15, 2007
Are you interested in seeing how we spend public money in the administration and management of the Auditor’s office? Check out the Issuance of Warrants Report on our website. Similar to a bank statement, this report lists the warrants for all Auditor expenditures issued by the Accounts Payable Division of the Auditor’s office, along with the date of payment, the amount, to whom payment was made, the expenditure type, a brief description of the expenditure and the document number. From our homepage, go to “search” and click on “expenditure search”. This new report starts with July 2007 expenditures.
August 8, 2007
Cincinnati’s Urban Forestry Program is responsible for planting and maintaining more than 80,000 street trees on over 1,000 miles of public right-of-way within the City of Cincinnati. The program has been operating since 1981 with funding by an annual urban forestry assessment. City Council levies the assessment at the rate of 17 cents per front foot on all property which abuts a public right-of-way in the City. This appears on Cincinnati property owners' January tax bills. The Auditor is required by law to keep an accounting of these special assessments, to place them on the tax duplicate as separate items, and to return the money collected to the taxing authority which levied the assessment. State law restricts this money to be used only for the street tree program; it cannot be spent on police, fire, or any other City service.
July 10, 2007
As of July 2, Ohio has expanded the Homestead Exemption. The Homestead Exemption is now available to all Ohio homeowners, regardless of income, who are either age 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2007. Get all the details and an application form by visiting our Homestead Page. Or, call our Homestead Division at (513) 946-4099 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. Phone lines are very busy and we do appreciate your patience!
When you are ready to file, mail your application to: Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes, Homestead Division, 138 E. Court Street, Room 310, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Be sure to include proof of age if you are 65 or older, such as a photocopy of your driver’s license, state ID or birth certificate. Or, if you are disabled, include a letter certifying your disability from a state or federal agency or have your physician complete the back side of the application.
June 29, 2007
- As of July 2, Ohio has expanded the Homestead Exemption. The Homestead Exemption is now available to all Ohio homeowners, regardless of income, who are either age 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2007. Get all the details and an application form by visiting our Homestead Page. Or, call our Homestead Division at (513) 946-4099 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.
June 29, 2007
If you have considered a career in the public sector, check back with us on Monday July 2 when we will post two employment opportunities in the Auditor’s office. These positions will be listed under “employment” at the bottom of the homepage.
June 21, 2007
We often receive phone calls from the public when a sold sign appears in front of a property, wanting to know the sale details. We are not privy to the information until the conveyance documents are filed with our office. Also, if you have had a recent closing and the transfer is not reflected on the Auditor’s website within a reasonable period of time, you should contact the person who handled the closing to make sure the transfer was filed with our office.
June 13, 2007
Our office receives many calls and e-mails this time of year regarding tax bills. These questions should be directed to the County Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer is responsible for printing and mailing tax bills. Tax bills are due June 20th.
May 22, 2007
The Hamilton County Sheriff conducts weekly property sales every Thursday at 11 am in Room 260 of the Hamilton County Courthouse. Two types of properties are sold: those for non-payment of property taxes and those for mortgage foreclosure. You can view the list of properties to be sold on the Sheriff’s website. Call 946-5341 for more details.
May 16, 2007
After numerous official notifications, failure to pay property taxes results in a suit being filed by the Hamilton County Treasurer to hold a foreclosure sale on the delinquent property. The Hamilton County Sheriff holds foreclosure sales every Thursday. If not sold the first week, the delinquent parcel is offered a second time. If not sold then, it is forfeited to the State and these properties are offered once a year, in June, at the Hamilton County Auditor's Forfeited Land Sale. For more information on the weekly Sheriff's Sale, please call 946-6400 or visit the Sheriff's website at www.hcso.org.
May 8, 2007
Special assessments can be levied on real estate parcels for services such as garbage collection, sewer tap-in, urban forestry, boulevard lighting, sidewalk repair, stormwater districts, property clean-up, demolition charges and delinquent water billing. The Auditor is required by state law to keep a separate accounting of special assessments and to return the money collected to the taxing authority (city, village, township) levying the assessment.
April 24, 2007
On Tuesday, May 8, residents of the City of Deer Park, the Village of Woodlawn, the Norwood City School District, and the townships of Crosby, Springfield, and Symmes will vote on levies. Information on what those levies will cost property owners can be found on the levy tab for properties in those districts. You can also access the news release found in the Front Page News Section of our homepage. If you plan to vote, remember there is a new voting rule which requires voters to show proof of residency, so take your driver's license or a recent utility bill showing your current address to the polls with you.
April 13, 2007
City, village, township and county governments have different roles and different authority under state law. Cities and villages can pass any law or ordinance not specifically forbidden by the state. That is called “home rule”. Townships and counties can only do what the state specifically allows. Some townships have limited “home rule” powers.
One of the strengths of county government is the independently elected offices including the Auditor, Clerk of Courts, Coroner, Engineer, Prosecuting Attorney, Recorder, Sheriff and Treasurer. Each is responsible for the operation of their office and they are not under the control or supervision of the County Commissioners. While the County Commissioners set our annual budgets, each of us is answerable directly to the voters.
April 2, 2007
After numerous official notifications, failure to pay property taxes results in a suit being filed by the
Hamilton County Treasurer to hold a foreclosure sale on the delinquent property.
The Hamilton County Sheriff holds foreclosure sales every Thursday. If not sold the first week,
the delinquent parcel is offered a second time. If not sold then, it is forfeited to the State
and these properties are offered once a year, in June, at the Hamilton County Auditor's Forfeited
Land Sale. For more information on the weekly Sheriff's Sale, please call 946-6400 or visit the Sheriff's website at www.hcso.org.
March 22, 2007
The filing period for the Board of Revision concludes on March 31. The BOR is the body established by state law where property owners may contest their valuation. It includes one representative from the County Commissioners, one from the County Treasurer, and one from the County Auditor’s office.
The period from January 1 to March 31 is the only time during the year when a complaint can be filed by state law. BOR guidelines, practices and procedures are provided along with complaint forms on this web site. Just go to the tab marked “Board of Revision” on this page.
March 2, 2007
Less than one month to go! The deadline for filing an appeal of your property’s value for this year with the Board of Revision (BOR) is March 31st. Please keep in mind, that generally speaking, the sooner you file, the sooner your complaint will be heard.
February 20, 2007
The County Treasurer’s Optional Payment Program, also called the TOP program, is available to residential and commercial Hamilton County property taxpayers. The program allows you to prepay your half-year taxes in five equal payments. There is no service charge. To qualify, taxes must be current. If you’re interested in applying, contact the Treasurer’s office at 946-4788.
February 5, 2007
The Transfer Desk processed approximately 2,800 ownership transfers in January generating approximately $930,000 in transfer tax fees for the County's general fund. The number of transfers is up 9% from last January and revenue is 1% higher than a year ago.
January 22, 2007
The Hamilton County Auditor’s Office is responsible only for the valuation of property, while the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office mails the tax bills and collects payments. The Treasurer’s Office has informed us that the tax bills were mailed on January 3 and the due date is January 31, 2007. Contact the Treasurer’s Office at (513) 946-4800 for any questions about your tax bill or to request a duplicate bill.
January 9, 2007
The Hamilton County Auditor’s Office is responsible only for the valuation of property, while the Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office mails the tax bills and collects payments. The Treasurer’s Office has informed us that the tax bills were mailed on January 3 and the due date is January 31, 2007. Contact the Treasurer’s Office at (513) 946-4800 for any questions about your tax bill or to request a duplicate bill.
January 3, 2007
The first of the year begins the annual three-month filing period for the Board of Revision (BOR). The BOR is the body established by state law where property owners may contest their valuation. It includes one representative from the County Commissioners, one from the County Treasurer, and one from the County Auditor’s office.
The period from January 1 to March 31 is the only time during the year when a complaint can be filed by state law. BOR guidelines, practices and procedures are provided along with complaint forms on this web site. Just go to the tab marked “Board of Revision” on this page.
December 29, 2006
We wish you a Happy New Year weekend!
The office will be closed on Monday January 1, 2007.
We will be open on Tuesday January 2nd, the national day of mourning for President Ford.
December 26, 2006
The County Treasurer has informed us that tax bills will be mailed the first part of January. Payment is due January 31st. You may view current tax amounts on the Auditor's web page under the "payments" tab for each property. For specific information about your tax bill, please contact the County Treasurer's Office at 946-4800.
December 22, 2006
We wish you a peace and love filled Holiday Season.
Our office will be closed on Monday to celebrate the season with our families and friends.
November 27, 2006
It is dog licensing time. The 2007 dog licensing season for all Hamilton County dogs and their owners runs from December 1 until January 31st as required by Ohio law. For more information call 946-4106 or visit the dog licensing section of our website, found under “Departments”.
November 27, 2006
The County Treasurer’s Optional Payment Program, also called the TOP program, is available to residential and commercial Hamilton County property taxpayers. The program allows you to prepay your half-year taxes in five equal payments. There is no service charge. To qualify, taxes must be current. If you’re interested in applying, contact the Treasurer’s office at 946-4788.
November 22, 2006
Thursday, November 23rd, Thanksgiving Day, is a day to give thanks. We wish you and yours a day of special blessings. Our office will be closed on Thursday and on Friday so we all can spend time with our families and our friends. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 15, 2006
Is there a lien on one of your properties? The Hamilton County Auditor’s Office is responsible only for the valuation of property, while the Hamilton County Recorder’s Office handles the recording of documents such as deeds, liens, leases, mortgages, easements, and registered land certificates. You can contact the Recorder Rebecca Prem Groppe’s Office at (513) 946-4600, or you may access their website at www.recordersoffice.hamilton-co.org.
November 9, 2006
The Auditor’s office will be closed on Friday November 10th as part of our observance of Veteran’s Day on Saturday. We thank all those who serve and who have served our country. It is they who keep us safe and it is they who keep us free.
November 8, 2006
Is there a lien on one of your properties? The Hamilton County Auditor’s Office is responsible only for the valuation of property, while the Hamilton County Recorder’s Office handles the recording of documents such as deeds, liens, leases, mortgages, easements, and registered land certificates. You can contact the Recorder Rebecca Prem Groppe’s Office at (513) 946-4600, or you may access their website at www.recordersoffice.hamilton-co.org.
October 27, 2006
Tuesday, November 7 is Election Day. Please make time to vote. Your vote does make a difference. In addition to the statewide and local candidates there are a number of proposed tax levies. To find out how much your taxes will change if a specific levy is passed, check the “Levy Info” tab under the heading “Parcel Info” in the left column on your property’s main page. The polls are open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Remember when you go to vote, take identification with you.
October 13, 2006
As of st1:date Year="2006" Day="28" Month="9">September 28, 2006, under new State law, owners of residential RENTAL property are required to file certain information with their
September 26, 2006
There are many parcel addresses in the Auditor's real estate system which, for a variety of reasons, do not match the address the US Postal Service has assigned for mail purposes.
The more common reasons are apartments and condos where each has a unique mailing address but all units sit on one parcel; commercial developments where many businesses, each with individual mailing addresses, are all on one parcel; and residences which sit at the corner of two streets.
Our office has no control over what address the Postal Service assigns to a business or residence for mail purposes.
September 13, 2006
Through the end of August the Transfer Desk has processed 23,439 property transfers, very close to the 23,855 for the same period last year. Transfer Desk revenue for the first three quarters of the year is $9,090,192.50 and this is also very close to the $9,099,723.70 in revenue generated in the same period last year.
September 5, 2006
If you see an error in any of our records, please let us know. You can e-mail the office, write or call.
It is our goal to have completely accurate records at all times, but occasionally an error occurs.
You can help us be correct. Thanks!
September 1, 2006
Monday, September 4th, the Auditor's office will be closed in observance of Labor Day. This holiday was conceived by the labor movement in 1882 as a day set aside to pay tribute to working population of the United States. Later, in 1894, amid labor unrest, President Grover Cleveland signed a congressional bill declaring Labor Day, the first Monday in September, a national holiday. Today Labor Day celebrates not only the labor movement and the workers of our country but it also marks the unofficial end of summer.
August 28, 2006
The storm water service fee on your property tax bill is a charge for implementing the Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) mandated by the recent federal storm water regulations. Hamilton County is required to implement this program in order to reduce storm water pollutant discharges to the “maximum extent practicable.” This mandate does not originate in the Auditor’s Office. For questions concerning this fee, please contact the Hamilton County Engineer’s Office at (513) 946-4254.
August 24, 2006
After numerous official notifications, failure to pay property taxes results in a suit being filed by the Hamilton County Treasurer to hold a foreclosure sale on the delinquent property. The Hamilton County Sheriff holds foreclosure sales every Thursday. If not sold the first week, the delinquent parcel is offered a second time. If not sold then, it is forfeited to the State and these properties are offered once a year, in June, at the Hamilton County Auditor's Forfeited Land Sale. For more information on the weekly Sheriff's Sale, please call 946-6400 or visit the Sheriff's website at www.hcso.org.
August 14, 2006
All transfers which have occurred since the computerization of the Auditor’s records in the early ‘90’s are listed on the transfer tab of the specific parcel. The most recent transfer is displayed on the summary page. If the most recent transfer is prior to computerization, nothing will be listed on the summary page.
August 8, 2006
We get several inquiries each week wanting to know if a particular property has sold and to whom. We aren’t the first to know. Calling the seller’s real estate agent is a better course of action. We will not receive any notice of a sale until the conveyance documentation from the closing is delivered to our office, at which time we will transfer the property from the seller to the buyer in our records. Just as a closing can happen very quickly or take months to happen after a sale, the delivery of the conveyance forms can also be very prompt or take weeks or months to happen.
August 1, 2006
On Tuesday, August 8, voters in Madeira, Northwest and Three Rivers School Districts will vote on school levies. Information on what those levies will cost property owners can be found on the levy tab for properties in those districts, or by accessing the news release found in the Front Page News Section of our homepage. If you plan to vote, remember there is a new voting rule which requires voters to show proof of residency, so take your driver's license or a recent utility bill showing your current address to the polls with you.
July 28, 2006
Again this year I am returning unspent money from the Real Estate Assessment (REA) Fund to local governments, school districts, and other taxing entities in the county.
The money comes from a small percentage of the county’s total tax collections and is designated by state law to be used for our appraisal work. The return is pro-rated to each entity on the basis of their total annual property taxes.
This year’s distribution will total $14 million. In 1994, I was able to return more than $1 million; and that was the first time REA funds had ever been returned in Hamilton County. In 2000, $4.2 million was returned.
You can read the news release and the complete list of amounts being returned to each tax entity in the Front Page News section of the homepage.
July 19, 2006
The Auditor’s office is often contacted about historic information on older homes and former owners. While we may have some limited information, the County Recorder’s office is a better source. Under state law, that office is entrusted with the recording and archiving of real estate records – primarily deeds, mortgages, easements and liens. Recorder Rebecca Prem Groppe has included some very interesting genealogical links on her site as well. Check them out. You can even research ancestors who came to America through Ellis Island.
July 11, 2006
The Board of Revision (BOR) is set up by state law to hear complaints on property values. It is made up of the County Auditor, the County Treasurer and the President of the County Commissioners. The Auditor's office provides the support staffing for scheduling, resolving and clerical requirements of the Board. There is general information about the rules of the Board on this website. However, we are not responsible for any other Hamilton County website which may have dated or incorrect information about the BOR. If we have incorrect information, tell us. If some other agency is wrong, tell them.
July 6, 2006
How do you obtain a copy of past surveys or learn the boundaries of your property? If there has been a land survey you can get that information from the Hamilton County Engineer’s Department. Contact the Engineer’s Office at (513) 946-4252 for more details.
June 29, 2006
On behalf of all the employees here in the Auditor's office, I wish you a very safe 4th of July weekend. I hope you will take time to celebrate our freedom in a meaningful way with friends and family in your community. There are lots of community events throughout the County this weekend to enjoy. On Monday, July 3rd, our office will be open should you need to reach us.
June 22, 2006
The County Treasurer’s Optional Payment Program, also called the TOP program, is available to residential and commercial Hamilton County property taxpayers. The program allows you to prepay your half-year taxes in five equal payments. There is no service charge. To qualify, taxes must be current. If you’re interested in applying, contact the Treasurer’s office at 946-4788.
June 14, 2006
One of the features of our website is a link to other Ohio Auditor’s offices. This link is maintained by the County Auditor’s Association of Ohio (CAAO). Check out the County Auditor's Association of Ohio's website at www.caao.org. If you have questions or comments about this site, contact the CAAO.
June 6, 2006
On Monday, June 5 our office completed the Forfeited Land Sale. This is the annual sale of properties which have not sold at Sheriff Simon Leis’ weekly auctions throughout the year. Thanks to our staff for their good work and special thanks to Sergeant Rick Snow of the Sheriff’s office for doing a superb job of keeping the auction on track, particularly in light of the many new bidders.
May 30, 2006
While the Auditor’s office sets property values, the County Treasurer is responsible for billing and collecting real estate taxes. The Treasurer’s Office has a Treasurer’s Optional Payment (TOP) Program which allows residential and commercial property owners to prepay their real estate taxes in installments. For information about this program, please call the Treasurer’s Office at (513) 946-4788, or you can access the Treasurer’s website at www.hamilton-co.org/treasurer .
May 25, 2006
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is the day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. It was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. There will be many observances throughout the county. Please remember the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day.
May 18, 2006
More than a fourth (29%) of gasoline tested three summers ago in Michigan was substandard according to The Toledo Blade. Of 953 stations tested, Michigan fined 48 for repeat violations related to problems with water, octane and contamination. Poor gas can clog your fuel filters, lower performance and damage engines. Ask your State Representative and State Senator to support efforts to begin testing our high priced gasoline for quality – while we’re testing quantity.
May 15, 2006
As our Weights and Measures Department is already visiting every gas station in the county – at least once a year – to check the quantity measured by each pump, there is little additional cost to also checking gas quality at the same time. So, here’s a government agency offering to provide an important consumer protection service – without asking you for more money to do it. All we need is the State Legislature’s passage of an enabling bill.
May 8, 2006
With the summer driving season upon us, here is our annual reminder that Ohio remains one of only four states which does not test gas for quality. Our Weights & Measures Department only tests for quantity. The petroleum industry lobbyists working the state legislature have continued to block county auditors' efforts to add quality testing to our regular checks of gas stations. We have been seeking this consumer protection authority for several years.
April 28, 2006
The levy results are in from Tuesday’s election. 17 levies were decided. 10 passed and 7 were defeated. Out of the 6 school levies, 2 passed and 4 were defeated. One of those defeats was a mere 15 vote difference between the supporters and the naysayers. Your vote can be a deciding one.
April 28, 2006
Tuesday, May 2nd is primary election day. Please make time to vote. Your vote does make a difference.
The Republican and Democratic ballots have statewide and local candidates for whom to vote as well as proposed levies.
You can also request an issues only ballot if you prefer to just vote on levies.
To find out how much your taxes would increase if a certain levy passes,
check out the levy tab for your parcel. The polls are open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.
April 28, 2006
What is a "replacement levy"? A replacement levy is one where the voters approve a levy for the same purpose and millage, but the reduction factor is calculated based upon the assessed values at the time voters re-approve the levy. This means that under a replacement levy, a property owner's tax burden due to that levy will very likely increase. The average appreciation in the assessed value of real property since the initial levy was passed is not taken into account in determining the new reduction factor.
Check out the blog archive below for more information on levies.
April 27, 2006
What is an "additional levy"? An additional levy is one where a new levy goes into effect; it represents an addition to existing taxes, and as a result, is known as an additional levy. An additional levy will increase a property owner’s tax burden if approved. The reduction factor calculation is based upon the assessed values at the time the voters approve the levy.
April 26, 2006
What is a "renewal levy"? A renewal levy is one where voters approve an extension of the existing levy under its current terms. That means the levy continues in effect with the same purpose, millage, effective rates and reduction factors. Generally speaking, there is no increase in taxes to property owners as a group, except that the tax rate is extended for more years.
April 19, 2006
Voters in fifteen taxing authorities will vote on levies on May 2nd in Hamilton County. Six are school levies, six are for fire/EMS purposes, two are for current expenses, one is for water, one is for sewers, and one is for streets/sidewalks. Three are renewal levies, three are replacement levies, and eleven are additional levies.
What's the difference between "renewal" "replacement" and "additional"? I will explain each type of levy in upcoming blogs.
April 14, 2006
If you have been asked to vote on an upcoming levy May 2nd, you can see just how much it will cost you in taxes, by accessing your property on our website. From the summary page for your property, click on "levy info" located in the blue banner on the left side of the page. You can also see a list of all proposed levies on the May ballot by clicking on the news release under "Front Page News" to the right of this blog.
April 10, 2006
March 31 was the deadline for filing complaints this year on values after the 2005 reappraisal. We received just 3,150 complaints which is less than one percent of the county’s total parcels. By way of comparison we had 5,300 complaints after the 1993 reappraisal and 5,305 after 1999’s. The significantly reduced number of complaints this year is the result of the good work of our Real Estate Department in setting new values, the tentative new value mailings, and the Neighborhood Conferences last summer which gave property owners the opportunity for an informal review and helped us to make needed changes.
April 10, 2006
March 31 was the deadline for filing complaints this year on values after the 2005 reappraisal. We received just 3,150 complaints which is less than one percent of the county’s total parcels. By way of comparison we had 5,300 complaints after the 1993 reappraisal and 5,305 after 1999’s. The significantly reduced number of complaints this year is the result of the good work of our Real Estate Department in setting new values, the tentative new value mailings, and the Neighborhood Conferences last summer which gave property owners the opportunity for an informal review and helped us to make needed changes.
March 27, 2006
The deadline for filing an appeal of your property’s value for this year with the Board of Revision (BOR) is this Friday, March 31.
Your complaint either has to be here in our office by the close of business at 4pm that day or postmarked no later than March 31. For more information check out the Board of Revision section of our website, found under "Departments".
March 24, 2006
If your property has been damaged, destroyed, or demolished, in part or in entirety, you may be eligible for a property value reduction. The owner must file an Ohio DTE Form 26 (Application for Valuation Deduction for Destroyed or Damaged Real Property) by December 31 for property damaged or destroyed between January and September. For property damaged or destroyed in the last three months of the year, the filing deadline is January 31 of the following year. Any deduction from value approved will affect the tax bills due the following year.
March 17, 2006
If your property has been damaged, destroyed, or demolished, in part or in entirety, you may be eligible for a property value reduction. The owner must file an Ohio DTE Form 26 (Application for Valuation Deduction for Destroyed or Damaged Real Property) by December 31 for property damaged or destroyed between January and September. For property damaged or destroyed in the last three months of the year, the filing deadline is January 31 of the following year. Any deduction from value approved will affect the tax bills due the following year.
March 10, 2006
We get several inquiries each week wanting to know if a particular property has sold and to whom. We aren’t the first to know. Calling the seller’s real estate agent is a better course of action. We will not receive any notice of a sale until the conveyance documentation from the closing is delivered to our office, at which time we will transfer the property from the seller to the buyer in our records. Just as a closing can happen very quickly or take months to happen after a sale, the delivery of the conveyance forms can also be very prompt or take weeks or months to happen.
March 1, 2006
Check out the link “School levy tax comparison” at the top of the Front Page News section to the right of this blog. We have not only computed the amount paid to a school district based on a $100,000 owner-occupied residential property, but we have also ranked the school districts so taxpayers can see where a specific district ranks when compared to the other Hamilton County school districts.
February 24, 2006
Did you know you can see value information from prior years for individual parcels on our website? Enter the “Parcel ID”, “Owner”, or “Street Address”. When the summary page displays, click on “Value History”, and you will be able to view the value from previous years back to 1996. Property in Ohio is required by law to be physically reappraised every six years and every third year after the reappraisal there is a triennial update. Those are the only times that the valuation changes unless there is a decision from the Board of Revision changing the value because of new construction, a clerical error, a destroyed building affidavit for a property, parcel split, combinations or a formal complaint filed in the Board of Revision.
February 14, 2006
If you see an error in any of our records, please let us know. You can e-mail the office, write or call.
It is our goal to have completely accurate records at all times, but occasionally an error occurs.
You can help us be correct. Thanks!
February 7, 2006
Did you know there have been six courthouses in Hamilton County?
The first, a log structure, was built by volunteers in 1790 on what is now Government Square. The second was built at the same site in 1802 at a cost of $3000. It was destroyed by fire in 1813. The third, built in 1819 on the site of our present courthouse at a cost of $15,000, burned down in 1849. The fourth completed in 1853 was the site of the Courthouse riots on March 28, 1884. Hundreds of people were injured, 45 were killed. The building and many county records were destroyed by a fire deliberately set in the Auditor's office. The fifth, also built on the same site, was completed in 1887.
The sixth, our current courthouse, was completed in 1919. The marble used came from twenty-five quarries in the United States and one in France. 120,000 pounds of granite columns grace the Law Library on the top floor. This Grecian-style building is decorated with bronze works, Rookwood tile and paneling, stained glass, inverted domes, New Hampshire granite and Bedford limestone.
February 7, 2006
You set the value when you bought it. State law requires that we set values to current market when we do the full reappraisal every six years and the triennial update three years into that time period. There is no better indicator of current value than an arms length sale. In other words, if you recently purchased your home you set your value. Our office isn’t setting values as much as reporting the market.
February 2, 2005
With the conclusion of the annual dog licensing period last month, you should know that the requirement comes from state law. We don’t license cats because state law does not allow it. Any ideas you have on why we should not license dogs or why you think we should license cats should be directed to your State Representative or State Senator. They are the only ones who can make a change.
January 19, 2006
Here are some helpful dates to mark on your calendar. Real Property Tax bills are due January 31st. Call the County Treasurer at 946-4800 if you have questions. The deadline for renewing your dog's license is also January 31st. Call 946-4106 if you have dog licensing questions. The Board of Revision filing period runs from January 1st through March 31st. Call 946-4035 with your Board of Revision questions. The filing period for Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) runs from January 2nd through March 6th this year. If you need a CAUV application, call 946-4047.
January 3, 2006
The new property values and the corresponding property tax amounts are now posted on our website. Go to "property search" to look up a parcel by owner name, address or parcel number. The new value is posted on the summary page. To view the tax bill information, click on "taxes paid", located just below the value totals on the summary page. If you have value questions, call the Auditor's office at 946-4000. If you have tax bill questions, call the County Treasurer at 946-4800. Tax bills will be mailed the first week of January.
December 22, 2005
The Ohio Tax Commissioner has approved the new values for Hamilton County. Final value notices will be mailed Friday December 23rd to anyone who has had a value change from the tentative value, in addition to those who contacted us during the review process. If you did not contact us during the review process and your final value is the same as your tentative value notice, you will not receive a final value notice letter. The new values will appear on the next tax bill. Tax bills are currently being prepared by the County Treasurer and will be mailed the first week in January. If you have questions about your value, please call us at 946-4000. If you have questions about your tax bill, please call the County Treasurer at 946-4800.
December 16, 2005
Several homeowners have inquired as to when we will notify property owners of the new values. Ohio law requires the Tax Commissioner's approval of the values. We expect that approval from the State in December. At that point we will send a final value notice to anyone who has had a value change from the tentative value, in addition to those who contacted us during the review process. If you did not contact us during the review process and your final value is the same as your tentative value notice, you will not receive a final value notice letter. The new values will appear on the next tax bill which the County Treasurer will mail the first week in January.
November 28, 2005
2006 Dog licenses go on sale December 1st. The annual fee, set by the County Commissioners, is $13.00. If you already own a licensed dog, you will receive your renewal information by mail in the next week or so. Licenses, which are required by State law for all dogs, can be purchased by mail or in person at any of the neighborhood dog license vendors. Please check out the dog license information pages on our website under "Departments". Call our dog license department at 946-4106 if you have any questions.
November 23, 2005
On behalf of all of us here in the County Auditor’s office, I wish you a very happy and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday. In observance of this holiday, we will be closed on Thursday November 24th and Friday November 25th.
November 18, 2005
We have had inquiries about the $0 “Sale Amount” shown on the Auditor’s Summary Page. The last transaction is always the one shown for the “Sale Amount.” If the amount shown is “$0”, the last transaction was one in which no money exchanged hands, i.e. to or from the United States, this state, or any instrumentality, agency, or political subdivision of the United States or this state; to evidence a gift between husband and wife, or parent and child or the spouse of either; pursuant to court order; to an heir or devisee, between spouses or to a surviving spouse, from a person to himself and others, to a surviving tenant, or on the death of a registered owner; or to a trustee acting on behalf of minor children of the deceased; etc. If the sale occurred many years ago, it could also mean that our records do not reflect a sale amount from that long ago.
November 15, 2005
If you are shopping firewood now that the cold weather is upon us, make sure you understand how to buy good quality wood. The Ohio Department of Agriculture through your County Auditor, is responsible for enforcing Ohio's Laws in regards to the definition, sale, and unit of measurement for fireplace and/or stove wood. Read and download this firewood brochure for more information, and then if you have questions or concerns about buying firewood, please call our Weights and Measures department at 946-4112.
November 9, 2005
As we head into the biggest shopping days of the year, remember that our office checks price scanners. During the holiday rush sometimes people can be overcharged at checkout. Please watch carefully as your purchases are being scanned. If you have any reason to question the accuracy of a scanner at any store please call our Weights and Measures office at 946-4112.
November 7, 2005
Tuesday is Election Day. Polls are open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Your vote does make a difference, so please vote. Contact the Hamilton County Board of Elections for polling place and ballot information at 632-7000.
If you are using our website to research the impact of proposed levies on the ballot in your neighborhood, recognize that for this election, the projections are estimates based on the CURRENT value of your property. Since the tax commissioner will not be certifying new values until after the election, we cannot use proposed new values for our levy tab projections.
November 4, 2005
Just a reminder: if you requested a review of your tentative new value during the informal review process this past spring and summer, we will be notifying you of your final value – by mail – in December. Why do you have to wait until then? The values are not truly final until they are approved by the State Tax Commissioner. Then, and only then, are they official.
October 27, 2005
The general election is November 8. If you are researching the impact of upcoming levies by using the levy tab on our website, recognize that for this election, the projections are estimates based on the CURRENT value of your property. Since the tax commissioner will not be certifying new values until after the election, we cannot use proposed new values for our levy tab projections.
October 21, 2005
Ohio's biennial budget bill, Amended Substitute House Bill 66, was signed by the Governor on June 30, 2005. In part, this bill restructures certain taxing programs in the State, amends tax increment financing programs and amends the State school foundation formula relating to certain tax abatement and tax increment financing programs.
Effective for the tax year 2005, the Bill terminates the 10-percent real property tax rollback for the commercial and industrial classes of property, and agricultural property used for the commercial production of timber. The 10-percent rollback will remain in effect for the residential class of property and most agricultural properties.
October 13, 2005
You may have noticed the new watermark ID on our website’s property photos. The watermark effectively prevents a lack of acknowledgment by some who might use or even possibly sell our image as if it were their own. It makes clear that it is this office’s work product for which we are responsible. The watermark used is the least obtrusive of half a dozen or so approaches that were considered. Its introduction follows incidents of enterprises covering up the Auditor’s banner and displaying portions of our website enveloped by their own company's banner.
October 10, 2005
The Auditor’s office is often contacted about historic information on older homes and former owners. While we may have some limited information, the County Recorder’s office is a better source. Under state law, that office is entrusted with the recording and archiving of real estate records – primarily deeds, mortgages, easements and liens. Recorder Rebecca Prem Groppe has included some very interesting genealogical links on her site as well. Check them out. You can even research ancestors who came to America through Ellis Island.
October 4, 2005
Just a reminder: if you requested a review of your tentative new value during the informal review process this past spring and summer, we will be notifying you of your final value – by mail – in December. Why do you have to wait until then? The values are not truly final until they are approved by the State Tax Commissioner. Then, and only then, are they official.
September 21, 2005
Check out the new Real Estate Tax Information feature on our website. Just do a property search, and then click on "taxes paid" from the summary page. This new feature will let property owners see exactly where their taxes go by breaking out the dollars and cents to each taxing entity. It will also help all property owners - especially those who do not receive a copy of their tax bill because their taxes are escrowed - to better understand how much of their total taxes fund schools, local governments, and special services. In addition to the break-out, there is also a pie chart to illustrate the percentages paid out from each tax bill.
September 16, 2005
One of our office’s duties is the transfer of deeds following a property’s sale. Approximately 24,000 deeds have been transferred so far this year. Transfer fees (set by the State and County Commissioners) have generated over $9 million in revenue for the County's General Fund.
Last year 35,912 deeds were transferred providing over $12.8 million in revenue.
September 12, 2005
A recent e-mail asked about the total value of property in the County. Hamilton County’s taxable property has a total value of $16,978,073,370. There is an additional $3,495,869,700 of exempt property. The residential property’s total value is $11,543,390,560, commercial is valued at $3,761,655,060 and industrial is valued at $872,914,610. The remainder is agricultural and public utility.
September 7, 2005
From time to time we receive e-mails about police service, street repairs, troublesome neighbors and various other community issues. These concerns should be directed to local government officials, city or village council members or Mayors, or township trustees. Ours is a county office and we have no authority or control over these types of matters.
September 2, 2005
To prevent a possible disruption of fuel supplies, mostly in rural areas, Ohio Agriculture Director Fred L. Dailey today signed an order to allow a small number of Ohio gas pumps to remain open despite their inability to display prices over $2.999 per gallon. The order allows about 150 gas stations – fewer than 3 percent of the state’s total – to display fuel at one-half the actual price as long as they continue to post the full price per gallon on street signs and other forms of advertising.
This means that $3 in gas would be displayed at the pump at $1.50, but the consumer would be charged the full price of $3 per gallon at the cash register. The total gallons pumped would be displayed correctly on the dispenser.
“Consumers should rely on the posted gallon price to know exactly what they are purchasing,” Dailey said. “If we did not implement the half price exemption, these stations might shut down and force consumers in rural areas to drive farther to fill up. The only thing worse than high gas prices is no gas at all.”
The outdated pump displays – mostly at independent companies in rural areas – are required to install an upgrade kit within the next 30 days to remedy this problem. The fueling stations have been notified they must immediately contact their petroleum equipment vendor to place an order, and most have already done so.
This order does not apply to newer electronic models usually found in urban areas.
August 31, 2005
As the price of gasoline keeps rising, you should know Ohio is one of only four states which does not test gas for quality. Our Weights & Measures Department only tests for quantity. The petroleum industry lobbyists working the state legislature have thwarted county auditors' efforts to add quality testing to our regular checks of gas stations. We have been seeking this consumer protection authority for several years.
More than a fourth (29%) of gasoline tested two summers ago in Michigan was substandard according to The Toledo Blade. Of 953 stations tested, Michigan fined 48 for repeat violations related to problems with water, octane and contamination. Poor gas can clog your fuel filters, lower performance and damage engines. Ask your State Representative and State Senator to support efforts to begin testing our high priced gasoline for quality
– while we’re testing quantity.
August 26, 2005
City, village, township and county governments have different roles and different authority under state law. Cities and villages can pass any law or ordinance not specifically forbidden by the state. That is called “home rule”. Townships and counties can only do what the state specifically allows. Some townships have limited “home rule” powers.
One of the strengths of county government is the independently elected offices including the Auditor, Clerk of Courts, Coroner, Engineer, Prosecuting Attorney, Recorder, Sheriff and Treasurer. Each is responsible for the operation of their office and they are not under the control or supervision of the County Commissioners. While the County Commissioners set our annual budgets, each of us is answerable directly to the voters.
August 22, 2005
After numerous official notifications, failure to pay property taxes results in a suit being filed by the Hamilton County Treasurer to hold a foreclosure sale on the delinquent property. The Hamilton County Sheriff holds foreclosure sales every Thursday. If not sold the first week, the delinquent parcel is offered a second time. If not sold then, it is forfeited to the State and these properties are offered once a year, in June, at the Hamilton County Auditor's Forfeited Land Sale. For more information on the weekly Sheriff's Sale, please call 946-6400 or visit the Sheriff's website at www.hcso.org.
August 11, 2005
Owner-occupied homes are eligible for the State’s 2.5% property tax rollback. If a property qualifies, it also automatically receives the County’s stadium sales tax rollback (STC). The STC is currently about 4%. At this time, 197,465 parcels receive these two tax reductions, up from 189,240 parcels five years ago. Check your property record on the website to see if you are receiving the reductions, but please note that 2005 applications will NOT show up on the web until after our year-end processing has taken place.
August 1, 2005
The 2005 tentative value informal meetings have ended. If you submitted documentation to our office, responded through our website, or met with an Auditor’s representative about your tentative value, your property will be reviewed. You will receive a final value letter in mid-December.
If you missed the July 29th deadline and still wish to contest your property value, you can file a formal complaint with the Board of Revision next year.
July 29, 2005
The 2005 tentative value informal meetings have ended. We are still accepting tentative value response forms by mail postmarked no later than July 29th. If you submitted documentation to our office, responded through our website, or met with an Auditor’s representative about your tentative value, your property will be reviewed. You will receive a final value letter in mid-December.
If you missed the July 29th deadline and still wish to contest your property value, you can file a formal complaint with the Board of Revision next year.
July 22, 2005
July 29th is the final day to notify us if you believe your tentative value is incorrect. Please check your value notice for details or call us at (513) 946-HOME. You can mail your response with a postmark no later than July 29, stop in our downtown office to talk with an appraiser between 7:30-4 Monday thru Friday, or use the website form accessible with your NIN number found on your tentative value notice. We really want to get every value right, so please let us know if you think your tentative value is not correct. The best question to ask yourself is “Would I be able to sell my property for an amount close to the value we have set?”
July 8, 2005
July 29th is the last day to contact us if you believe your tentative value is incorrect. If you want to meet with one of our appraisers at a neighborhood conference, plan on attending one of the three remaining neighborhood conferences to be held July 19, 20, and 21 at St. Gertrude’s Church, 7630 Shawnee Run Road in Madeira, noon to 8pm. Please refer to your tentative value notice for more details, or scroll down to the links below this blog.
July 8, 2005
The state-mandated reappraisal continues to generate comment. There is a difference between a “mass” appraisal and a “fee” appraisal. If you were to hire an appraiser to appraise your property, that individual appraisal would be a fee appraisal. Our state-mandated county-wide reappraisal is a mass appraisal. The average cost for this mass appraisal is about $17 a parcel. This is a great deal less per parcel than a fee appraisal would cost. We are giving owners the opportunity to review and comment on their tentative new value because we want your help in getting your value right. Think of it this way: would you expect to receive at least as much as we say your property is worth if you were to sell it?
June 30, 2005
“I haven’t done anything to my property and yet you increased its value”.
We often see this response to tentative new value information.
We are required by state law to set values to current market.
Most real estate has appreciated over the past three years, some more than others.
In fact, all we are doing is reporting the current market value.
The “increasing” is being done by the market place.
June 21, 2005
Several recent letters to the editor have confused taxation with real estate valuation. The state mandated, county-wide reappraisal now being conducted is not intended to “raise taxes”. With some exceptions, created by the State Legislature, most voted tax levies are rolled back after a reappraisal.
With respect to valuation, the County Auditor is responsible for bringing real estate values to current market.
Regarding taxation, citizens should direct their concerns to the responsible parties including their local school boards, city or village councils, township trustees, county commissioners, neighbors who vote for tax levies and perhaps even themselves if they have voted for tax levies.
June 13, 2005
One of the most common questions from homeowners is “How do I know if your value of my property is correct?” Here’s one of the best ways to check – call a Realtor. They work in the real estate market every day, have a good idea of property values and are usually happy to provide information. You can also use our website to review recent sales in your neighborhood.
June 9, 2005
Another common question from property owners is “How did you determine my value?” We can’t provide a tutorial on mass appraisal practices and that really isn’t the question. What matters is not how we got it, but if you think it is correct. If you don’t agree, tell us why. Here’s our question “Would you receive as much as we say your property is worth if you were to sell it?”
June 6, 2005
We began mailing tentative new property values in May. Our Neighborhood Conferences begin on June 6. It used to be that no one knew their new value until they got their first tax bill based on a new valuation. By providing advance notice and conference locations throughout the county we give you a chance to informally review your value with us. It’s a lot of work but if it saves you the necessity of a formal hearing next year and helps us to correct errors, it’s worth it. Please check out the reappraisal links below this blog to find out more about the schedule of neighborhood conferences and the mailing of tentative value notices.
June 1, 2005
Among the most frequent questions on tentative new values is: “How can you raise the value of my home by (40, 50, 60 or some other) percentage?” The previous value can not be considered. We have to set values to current market by state law. It is possible the previous value was too low. It is also possible a recent sale set the new value. Does our new value reflect the current market value of your property? That is the critical question, not the amount of a percentage increase over the last value set over three years ago.
May 23, 2005
During the next six weeks, we will be mailing Tentative Value Notices to all residential property owners in Hamilton County as part of the 2005 reappraisal process. Below this blog are two new reappraisal links. The first gives general information. After you receive your tentative value notice, you can use the second link to access more information about your property. I believe it is very important to involve all property owners in the state required valuation process so that the real estate values we establish accurately reflect market value.
May 17, 2005
Time is running out to file this year for the State of Ohio’s Homestead Exemption program. It provides tax relief to homeowners 65 and over and/or those who are permanently disabled, providing they meet certain income requirements. Our office administers this program in Hamilton County. Information on it is available on this website. Just go to the Homestead link found under “Departments” for more information. The filing period for this tax relief runs from January 1 to the first week of June. If you have a friend, neighbor or family member who may qualify please let them know about it. It is worth looking into.
May 12, 2005
According to federal statistics, more dog bites occur in April, May and June than in any other months. Please be a responsible dog owner. License your dog, make sure your dog is up-to-date on all necessary inoculations, give your dog regular supervised exercise, and keep your dog under control at all times. Mistakes can be costly – both financially and emotionally. Our dogs depend on us. Do what’s right for your dog.
May 10, 2005
The Hamilton County Public Library is one of the local links we list in the links sections at the bottom of this homepage. Check it out along with some of the other links we have included. On May 12, in Columbus Ohio, the Ohio Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on Library funding. Go to the Public Library’s site to learn more about how State funding for Public Libraries may impact our local public libraries.
May 9, 2005
On May 12th and May 19th, we will publish in the Cincinnati Enquirer the list of all personal property tax accounts determined to be delinquent by the County Treasurer. To avoid publication, any delinquent taxpayer should make payment to the Treasurer or enter into an agreement with the Treasurer prior to publication. For more information about payments please call the County Treasurer at (513) 946-4800. For more information about Personal Property, go to the Personal Property section of our website listed under “Departments”.
May 4, 2005
It’s spring and there’s no better time than now as you’re doing your spring cleaning to set up a regular recycle program for your household. Courtesy of CIN WEEKLY, here's a list of area locations which accept your recycle items such as newspaper, cardboard, junk mail, paperboard (i.e., cereal boxes), magazines, phone books, brown paper grocery bags, aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles and jugs, and steel aerosol cans. In the list there are also locations which will accept non-ferrous metals (aluminum, copper, brass stainless steel, etc.), appliances (Freon must be removed), and car batteries. Also visit the Hamilton County Environmental Services website. This comprehensive website includes a wealth of information and statistics on our local environment.
May 2, 2005
Tuesday, May 3rd, is election day in Elmwood Place, St. Bernard, Silverton, Delhi, Harrison Township, and the school districts of North College Hill, Northwest, Norwood and Wyoming. Check out the impact these levies would have on your property tax bill on the levy tab for your parcel. Please take time to vote on Tuesday. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. For polling place locations, contact the Board of Elections at 632-7000.
April 28, 2005
April 30th is the last day to file your Ohio Single County Personal Property Form 920,
or to file for an extension. Information and forms for business owners are available
on our website by clicking on Personal Property which is listed under the Departments
Section of our homepage.
April 26, 2005
Currently the State of Ohio provides several property tax reductions including a 10% rollback
to all properties and a 2½% reduction for owner-occupied residential property.
If you qualify for the 2½ reduction you also receive Hamilton County’s stadium
sales tax rollback. Check your property page to be certain you are
receiving the reductions for which you qualify.
If you have a question please call our office at 946-4000 during regular office hours.
April 22, 2005
The County Auditors’ Association of Ohio includes all
88 Auditors in Ohio. The organization shares information
to improve the operation of our offices.
We also work with the General Assembly on legislation
affecting our offices and county government.
County Auditors across the state are among the
most dedicated public servants I have ever known.
I’m proud to be associated with them.
April 18, 2005
We’ve added some new info to our website.
If your parcel is on TIF (Tax Increment Financing), on an abatement program
or is exempt, you will see some new line items on the summary screen for your parcel.
We have broken out the portions of the total valuation for each of these specialized programs.
Check the glossary for a more detailed explanation of these specialized programs.
April 15, 2005
The County Auditors’ Association of Ohio includes all
88 Auditors in Ohio. The organization shares information
to improve the operation of our offices.
We also work with the General Assembly on legislation
affecting our offices and county government.
County Auditors across the state are among the
most dedicated public servants I have ever known.
I’m proud to be associated with them.
April 11, 2005
Tune in to Channel 9, WCPO TV,
Saturday, April 16 at 8:00 am. Dusty will start his day with the
WCPO Pet Pals folks and their frolicking canines.
It’s a chance to meet some adorable dogs looking for forever
homes and to grab some great tips on responsible dog ownership.
For more information on the WCPO Pet Pals program click here.
April 1, 2005
Homeowners in Elmwood Place, St. Bernard, Silverton, Delhi, Harrison Township,
and the school districts of North College Hill, Northwest, Norwood and Wyoming will be voting on levies at
the upcoming May 3rd election. There’s a press release you can access for general information in the
“Front Page News” section of the homepage. For specific information on how the passage of any of these
levies will change the property taxes on your parcel, do a "property search" for your parcel and then click
on the levy tab.
March 29, 2005
How long does it take for transfer information to appear on our website?
It depends on the type of transfer. If the transfer does NOT involve new construction,
a split, or a consolidation, as soon as a transfer is brought to the Auditor’s Office,
typically within a few days of the closing, it is listed in our records and will appear
on the website within two weeks. Transfers involving new construction,
a split or consolidation will not display right away even though they have been received.
Click here for an earlier blog regarding new contruction.
If you have had a recent closing and the transfer
is not reflected on the Auditor’s website within a
reasonable period of time, you should contact the
person who handled the closing to make sure the transfer was filed with our office.
March 24, 2005
Spring is here and with spring comes an increased number of lost dogs at the SPCA and loose dogs in neighborhoods and on our roads. No matter how diligent owners are, dogs can and will get loose. Dogs with licenses get home. All the finder has to do is call 946-DOGS or go to our website to look up an owner’s name and address by the license tag number. If your dog is unlicensed, give your dog the best insurance policy for safety – a dog license. It’s the law to license, but just as important, it’s the right thing to do for your dog. Check out the dog section of our website, including the links at the bottom of the homepage.
March 21, 2005
It’s tax time - April 15th is less than one month away.
If you escrow your property taxes as part of your monthly mortgage payment,
you probably never see your property tax bill. As part of your annual bookkeeping
and the collecting of information for your federal and state income tax filings,
consider requesting a copy of your property tax bill from the Treasurer’s office
by calling 946-4800.
If you prefer a simple summary, print the payment screen from our
website for your property so
you have a record for your files.
March 18, 2005
When will new construction properties appear on our website? When do owners of new construction receive their first tax bill? By law all property is taxed as of the lien date of January 1 each year. For example, if construction was not started by January 1, 2004, it will be assigned as a lead for January 2005 and the property will not appear on the website until late December 2005 or January 2006. If new construction was 100% complete as of January 1, the new value will appear on the following January’s tax bill, which will be payable that year. For instance, if a property is 100% complete by January 1, 2004, it will be taxed for 2004, which is payable in 2005. Taxes in Ohio are always a year behind. The new construction may be only partially completed by the January 1 lien date, so the Auditor’s Office may assign a partial value to the property until it is 100% complete. If there is no construction started by the January 1 lien date, but the house is completed and occupied sometime during that year, it is conceivable that you would not receive a tax bill for the first year after you move in.
March 15, 2005
How does your school district compare to others in the county in terms of taxes?
Click here to find out or read the press release under “Front Page News”.
Check out other property tax files by going to the “Department” tab at the top of this page.
Click on “Real Estate Tax” on the pull down menu to select a file to review.
Our Finance Department staff updates these files each year.
March 10, 2005
When you look at your property tax bill, provided to you by the County Treasurer,
there are terms with which you might not be familiar such as full rate, reduction factor,
effective rate, 10% rollback, 2.5% rollback and the sales tax credit.
For a more complete explanation of these terms and other terms related to tax bills
and levies go to our 2000 Citizens Annual Financial Report, page 4.
This report and reports from other years can be found in the “Departments”
section of the Auditor’s homepage under “Financial Reports”.
March 8, 2005
Did you ever wonder why many county employees have a 35-hour work week which means most offices are open from 8am to 4pm? In the ‘eighties County Commissioners reduced the 40 hour work week by 2½ hours in two separate years in lieu of pay raises. To bring an employee back to 40 hours requires a pay increase under federal wage and hour laws. In the Auditor's office, we have been gradually bringing employees back to 40 hours instead of replacing employees who leave or retire.
March 3, 2005
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s office holds weekly real estate sales on Thursdays at 11 a.m.
outside Room 260 of the Hamilton County Courthouse.
There are two types of properties offered for sale:
those for non-payment of property taxes and those for mortgage foreclosure.
You can contact the Sheriff's office at (513) 946-5340 for more information
on the sale process and the upcoming properties for sale.
You can also purchase a subscription to the Cincinnati Court Index publication
which advertises the sale properties.
March 1, 2005
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Conference of Weights and Measures.
The Conference was established to assist local weights and measures jurisdictions to exchange information
and help standardize our work. The importance of weights and measures extends back to the Articles of Confederation in 1781.
Here in Hamilton County we are proud of our professional inspectors and their good work.
We work to be certain their training and their equipment is up to date and certified by the State of Ohio.
Please join with us in noting National Weights and Measures week, March 1 through March 7.
February 25, 2005
The Auditor’s office is often contacted about historic information on older homes and former owners. While we may have some limited information, the County Recorder’s office is a better source. Under state law, that office is entrusted with the recording and archiving of real estate records – primarily deeds, mortgages, easements and liens. Recorder Rebecca Prem Groppe has included some very interesting genealogical links on her site as well. Check them out. You can even research ancestors who came to America through Ellis Island.
February 22, 2005
OK, so I’m called an “Auditor” but what do I audit? The answer is “not much”. County offices are audited annually by the State Auditor. Previous efforts to “bring audit capability home” have been unsuccessful. Under state law, I can question the validity of expenditures before I pay them – and I do. But once a bill has been paid, I don’t have authority to review the payment. With more than 6,000 county employees here a local ongoing internal audit authority - independent of the county’s appropriation and contracting authority - is one of our most critical needs.
February 17, 2005
Among the services our office provides is the CAUV (Current Agricultural Use Value) program.
This is a program which allows a reduction in value – and therefore in taxes -
for properties used for farming, forestry and animal husbandry.
To learn more about this program please check the following link CAUV (Current Agricultural Use Value) program on our website.
February 11, 2005
There are approximately 6,195 County employees with 1,905 of those reporting to the Board of County Commissioners.
The Department of Jobs and Family Services is the largest department with 1,459 employees.
Your county officials include the Auditor,
Clerk of Courts, Coroner,
Engineer,
Prosecuting Attorney,
Recorder,
Sheriff,
Treasurer and the Judges
(Common Pleas,
Court of Appeals,
Domestic Relations,
Juvenile,
Municipal,
Probate).
Of these, the Sheriff's office has the most employees: 995 employees.
Independently elected officials are responsible for the operation of their offices.
They are not under the control or supervision of the County Commissioners.
February 8, 2005
Check out my guest column in the (Tuesday, February 8, 2005) “Cincinnati Enquirer”
at the bottom of page B-7. I am writing about my opposition to eliminating property tax levy
rollbacks after a reappraisal. As always, your comments are welcome.
February 3, 2005
County government is often misunderstood. As a second tier of government, the County is not intended to take the place of local governments. Unlike cities and villages, the County does not have law making authority. We are simply an administrative arm of the State. We can do only what the State of Ohio permits. Also, unlike cities, we have elected officials instead of appointees. Independently elected officials means more direct accountability to the voters.
January 31, 2005
Last year’s total real estate transfers through our office came to 35,912. That compares to 35,251 for 2003, or an increase of 1.9%. The county’s transfer tax brought in $12,848,814.10 for the county’s General Fund last year, an increase of 11.9% over 2003’s $11,478,212.30.
January 27, 2005
Need a speaker for your club or organization? I will be happy to attend your meeting and provide a brief overview of our office, the property appraisal process and answer any questions within the time frame you set. Just call our office at 513-946-4047 to schedule.
January 24, 2005
Time is running out – to get your dog licensed for 2005.
You have to get your license by January 31 or the $13 renewal fee doubles.
State law requires all dogs be licensed, even if they don’t run loose.
Here’s the link to more information on dog licensing and a link to
neighborhood locations where you can buy your dog’s 2005 license.
January 21, 2005
Thank you for making our website one of the most used in the area.
We had over a million and a quarter users last year. Most weekdays we receive 5,000 or more visitors.
I’m proud ours was one of the first such websites and I’m glad it has apparently been so helpful to so many people.
Please email me if you have suggestions of how we can make this website even better.
January 18, 2005
Have you checked the “links” tab at the bottom of this page? We have recently added links to the U. S. House and Senate and the
Ohio House and Senate. All you need to do is type in your zip code to access the contact information for those elected officials who represent you at both the state and federal levels. We occasionally get calls requesting this information from those who
wish to contact their elected officials. This should make it easier.
January 12, 2005
We continue to receive calls and e-mails about property tax bills. Tax bills are prepared, mailed and collected by the County Treasurer – not the Auditor. The Treasurer has told me tax bills are being mailed this Thursday (January 13). Payment will be due by February 7. For more information please contact the Treasurer’s office at 946-4800.
January 6, 2005
The first of the year begins the annual three-month filing period for the Board of Revision (BOR). This is the board where property owners may contest their valuation. It includes one representative from the County Commissioners, one from the County Treasurer, and one from the County Auditor’s office. January 1 to March 31 is the only time when a BOR complaint can be filed by state law. BOR guidelines, practices and procedures are provided along with complaint forms on this web site. Just click here for more information.
January 5, 2005
A recent news story in “The Cincinnati Enquirer” noted that Ohio is one of only four states that does not test for fuel quality at the gas pumps. Our Weights & Measures Inspectors regularly test for volume, but we have no authority to check to make sure you are getting the right octane. I am working with the County Auditors’ Association in hopes the Ohio Legislature will allow us to provide this important consumer protection with new legislation in 2005.
January 3, 2005
The County Treasurer is responsible for billing and collecting property taxes. As a courtesy, our office includes the Treasurer’s payment information on our website. The new amounts due this year have been posted. Any questions on your property taxes should be directed to the Treasurer’s office at 513-946-4800.
December 29, 2004
We are sometimes asked “why are some of our property values below the current market?” Most values, unless there has been a Board of Revision or new construction change, are as of January 1, 2002! That is the “tax lien date” for the county-wide reappraisal currently in effect. State law does not allow us to adjust values in between reappraisals. The next one takes effect in 2006 and will reflect values as of January 1, 2005. Best wishes for a Happy New Year!
December 20, 2004
Check out our holiday price scanner results. Our Weights and Measures inspectors give special attention to retail establishments at this time of year to be sure of accurate pricing for your presents and other purchases.
December 13, 2004
Our office receives many calls and e-mails this time of year regarding tax bills. These questions should be directed to the County Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer is responsible for printing and mailing tax bills.
December 8, 2004
The State of Ohio’s Homestead Exemption program provides tax relief to homeowners 65 and over and/or those
who are permanently and totally disabled, providing they meet certain income requirements.
Our office administers this program in Hamilton County. Homestead Exemption information is available on this website.
Click here to go to the Homestead Homepage. The filing period for this tax relief runs from the first Monday in January (January 3) to the first Monday in June (June 6). If you have a friend, neighbor or family member who may qualify please let them know about it.
December 1, 2004
Welcome to our newly designed website! This space will be used to provide current information, observations and occasional commentary about our office, its functions and services. Look for a new message every few days and more often depending on events. As always, your responses will be most welcome.