WARREN — Adjusted property valuations in Trumbull County are tentative and resulting tax amounts may face further adjustment, based on legislation being considered in Columbus, Trumbull County Auditor Martha Yoder said last week.

Yoder recently released limited information about projected changes to Trumbull County property values, based on new property values estimated through a six-year mass reappraisal process mandated by state law.

The valuations will be used in calculating tax bills due next year. Actual property tax amounts will be available in mid-January, Yoder has said. So far, she has not released any specifics, including average percentage changes to county property values determined by the reappraisal process.

In a heated exchange with Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frencko during last week’s commissioners meeting, Yoder said her office has nothing to do with potential property tax increases coming next year.

Frenchko raised the issue because she said she has received phone calls from constituents concerned about possible property tax increases.

“People want to know what their tax liabilities will be so they will know when they are voting on future tax levies,” Frenchko said.

But tax bills are not generated from the county auditor, Yoder reminded Frenchko. Rather, they come from the county treasurer’s office.

“It is Treasurer (Sam) Lamancusa’s name that’s on the tax bill,” Yoder said. “As you know, I do not set taxes.”

Frenchko also suggested that people want to know projected property tax bill as soon as possible, so they can determine whether they should fight any property tax increases through the appeals process.

“I know they are concerned,” Frenchko said. “If there is something you can do, in conjunction with whomever, to make sure they are better prepared.”

VALUES TENTATIVE

Yoder said property valuations are available to property owners, but they are tentative. Property taxes cannot be set until these valuations are finalized. She also noted legislation still being considered by Ohio legislators could change current valuations.

“The state applies the effective rates. It is not done in the auditor’s office,” Yoder said. “What I can do is give out as much information that I can, which is tentative values.”

Property owners interested in obtaining their current property valuations and tax may obtain them by going to the auditor’s website.

Yoder stressed it is the state, not the local auditor, that determines effective rate of property taxes.

“There are too many variables,” she said.

She described that mass reappraisals of property valuations are done every six years, as mandated by the Ohio Revised Code. The latest reappraisals are being completed. This has been a two-year process that began in Trumbull County in 2021.

Further, she explained the reappraisal process determines the property’s valuation, not necessarily the amount of taxes property owners will pay.

Yoder noted 23 levies will appear in various communities on the Nov. 7 ballot. If passed, those levies will contribute to calculations to determine how much taxes each property owner will pay.

“The treasurer’s office will send out tax bills in mid-January,” Yoder said.

Yoder said anyone with concerns about the valuation of their property can request to meet with someone in her office to review what went into determining the valuation.

HEATED DISCUSSION

Frenchko continued to grill Yoder, next asking her to explain the difference between mass valuation and fee valuations.

Yoder responded to Frenchko’s numerous questions about taxes, stating she knows Frenchko’s ex-boyfriend gave her lessons on fee appraisals.

Frenchko fired back, “Do you have a boyfriend? … Are you jealous or something?”

Yoder responded that she was married for 30 years to a fine man.

Frenchko then questioned Yoder’s educational background, stating that she went to an appraisal institute.

Yoder responded that she has a degree in public administration and ran a successful business for 29 years.

Commissioner Denny Malloy, president of the board, put an end to the barrage of questions.