Politics
Columbus Raises Property Taxes on Expensive Homes, Cuts Bills for Lower-Value Properties
Lower-valued residential properties receive reduced annual bills while higher-value homes and some commercial sites face increases under the new assessment rules set by city council.
How we reported this
The Columbus City Council approved the 2026 property tax levy adjustment on June 15, which recalibrates millage rates based on updated assessments completed by the Franklin County Auditor. Homeowners whose properties are valued below the median of $248,000 receive an average annual reduction of $180, while owners of homes above $400,000 see increases averaging $310. Renters in multifamily buildings may encounter pass-through costs if landlords adjust leases to cover higher commercial assessments.
Why the adjustment takes effect this year
Franklin County last completed a full revaluation in 2023, and state law requires updates every three years to reflect market changes. The 2026 budget papers from the city finance department project a $22 million revenue shift from residential to mixed-use properties to maintain funding levels for existing services without raising the overall levy cap. Local advocates note that housing prices in neighborhoods such as German Village and Clintonville rose 14 percent between 2023 and 2025, driving the need for the recalculation.
Residents in the Hilltop area, where median assessed values sit at $172,000, will see the largest share of reductions applied to their tax statements mailed in December. In contrast, property owners along High Street corridors with commercial storefronts face added charges that the legislation states will support road maintenance allocations. The adjustment does not alter income tax rates or sales tax collections, which remain at their prior levels.
Projected distribution of costs and relief
City budget documents estimate that 68,000 residential parcels will receive net savings, while 19,000 parcels will carry additional payments. A household in a $195,000 home on the west side, for example, will pay $1,240 instead of $1,420 under the prior schedule. A $520,000 property in Bexley will pay $4,890, up from $4,580. The government says the policy will keep total property tax collections at $487 million for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2027.
Implementation begins with the first half payments due in February 2027. The county auditor will mail updated notices by October 2026, and residents may file appeals through December 15. No further changes to the levy structure are scheduled until the next revaluation cycle in 2029.