Associated Press . . . Gov. Mike DeWine, above, vetoed 67 items in the 2026-27 budget for Ohio.

Gov. Mike DeWine’s decision to veto property tax changes approved by the General Assembly disappointed and surprised some local legislators, who say an override is very likely.

DeWine, a Republican, announced 67 vetoes Tuesday of provisions in the state budget, approved by the Republican-led Legislature.

Among the property tax vetoes were limiting school districts to have only up to 40% of their annual operating budget in their cash reserves with some exemptions, giving county budget commissions control over tax rates and levies, requiring school districts to include emergency levies in their guaranteed 20-mill floor tax rates, and removing the ability for any government entity to seek replacement levies with school districts also not permitted to ask for replacement or emergency levies.

In explaining those vetoes, DeWine said he was “concerned that imposing them now, all of them at once, on our local schools would create a huge, huge problem and none of them guaranteed what we would end up with.”

DeWine said rising property taxes, particularly in the past three or so years, are a top concern, but “the provisions in this budget would put an undue, very abrupt (and) significant problem (on) our local school districts. We have to find solutions to our property tax problem.”

It also would “not be good for our students,” DeWine said. “Ultimately, the only thing that matters is our students, and I felt that created a real problem.”

State Rep. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, who represents portions of Trumbull County, said the Legislature has the votes to override the governor’s veto. The House and Senate need a 3/5th vote to override the veto — 60 in the House and 20 in the Senate.

The budget passed in the House, 59-38, with five Republicans in opposition, and 23-10 in the Senate, with one Republican voting no. Thomas said the five Republicans who voted against the bill are fiscal conservatives who didn’t believe the budget went far enough, so there are enough members to override the vetoes.

The reforms “would have made a real difference for our tapped out property owners,” Thomas said. “These were the strongest efforts the Legislature has approved since the crisis.”

Thomas, the House Republicans’ pointman on property tax reform, said: “It makes zero sense to veto efforts directly relieving our taxpayers. We will get you the help needed. This is not done and is a strong oversight and miscalculation of where our property owners are. They need relief and reform now and cannot wait another property tax cycle.”

The Legislature is supposed to return to session in September. It has until the end of 2026 to override DeWine’s vetoes, but Thomas said he expects it to be done sooner than that.

State Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Boardman, said: “I was incredibly disappointed and frustrated to read that Gov. DeWine vetoed every meaningful property tax reform measure we passed in the operating budget. Ohioans are fed up with our broken property tax system, but their concerns were just swept aside by the governor to preserve the status quo.”

Both Fischer and Thomas said they wanted more property tax cuts, but this was a good start.

“It represented a meaningful step that would have put money back in people’s pockets,” Fischer said. “I hope my colleagues come together to override these vetoes and deliver the savings our citizens deserve.”

State Sen. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, said he was concerned with DeWine’s vetoes, particularly of the property tax changes, because “property taxes is the No. 1 issue for my constituents and me. My priority is to ensure whatever property tax relief we can give to people we do. I don’t want to hurt our school districts. There’s a lot more legislation that needs to be introduced.”

The Legislature’s bill gave county budget commissions control over tax rates and levies, permitting them to cut property tax rates if revenues exceed expenditures — even if voters approved ballot initiatives for that funding. DeWine vetoed it.

Cutrona said he was “surprised” by that decision, calling it “very easy policy that will have tremendous impact. It’s local checks and balances.”

Cutrona said DeWine’s “blanket veto for all property tax reform left me puzzled. It provides a massive tax relief to our residents. Property taxes are my top focus so if overriding the governor’s veto provides that relief, I’m 1,000% behind it. I don’t think we went far enough, but you try to take the wins where you can get it.”

The budget passed by the General Assembly limited school districts to having only up to 40% of their annual operating budget in their cash reserves. That was estimated to save $2.17 billion in property taxes. There was a provision that the 40% limit could be exceeded if the money is kept in a separate fund for construction and maintenance projects.

Cutrona said that provision could be tweaked.

In his veto message, DeWine said of the provision: “While the intention to save taxpayer dollars is understandable, this item would significantly limit the amount of funding that school districts can carry over year-to-year, resulting in more districts asking taxpayers to pass levies more often, which could very well exacerbate property tax increases instead of reducing them.”

State Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-Lenox, who represents all of Trumbull County, said: “I’m very disappointed the governor vetoed all property tax relief for Ohoans. The legislators proposed several remedies to give property tax relief and the governor chose not to implement them. A good night for the lobbyists.”

Asked if the Legislature would override the vetoes, O’Brien said, “We’ll see.”

DeWine didn’t veto a 2.75% state income tax that benefits wealthy Ohioans, saying he knew the Legislature would override it.

He also didn’t veto a plan to give $600 million from the state’s unclaimed fund to help fund a stadium in Brook Park for the Cleveland Browns.