Seneca County residents won’t see significant increases in real estate tax bills
By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator
Seneca County residents won’t find any big surprises on the real estate tax bills that will soon arrive in the mail. Last year’s tax bills for tax year 2023, payable in 2024, reflected significant valuation increases due to the state-mandated 2023 appraisal. The 2024 tax bill, payable in 2025, will reflect little, if any, change from last year.
Ohio Revised Code requires property reappraisals to occur every six years, and the reappraisal periods are staggered across the state. The state is divided into three cycles, and Seneca County is included in the cycle that was scheduled for and underwent a reappraisal in 2023. The valuation increases that resulted from the 2023 reappraisal were reflected on the 2024 tax bills. The 2025 tax bills do not include an additional reappraisal-based valuation increase because properties were not reappraised in 2024. Seneca County is scheduled for a triennial update in tax year 2026, payable in 2027.
“Taxes are not going up 22% again this year,” Seneca County Treasurer Paul Harrison said.
Some nearby counties were scheduled for property value reappraisals or triennial updates in 2024, but Seneca County was not among them. Seneca County is not scheduled for an update to valuation until tax year 2026, payable in 2027, which is three years after the 2023 reappraisal. That means this year’s tax bills will have little, if any, change from the 2024 tax bills.
Whenever a reappraisal or triennial update occurs, Seneca County Auditor Julie Adkins notifies the taxpayers, as she did prior to the 2023 reappraisals.
“I notified taxpayers at least two years prior when the field work started,” Auditor Adkins said. “Then, in late fall of 2023, I sent all taxpayers a notification to view their valuation change online.”
Auditor Adkins also stated that if taxpayers have any questions concerning their property valuation, to please contact the office.
State Representative Gary Click said lawmakers are continually working to address weaknesses in the property appraisal/property tax process, which is dictated by law and must be followed by county elected officials. Several bills were introduced at the Statehouse in 2024 to address the issue, and some will be reintroduced this year. Rep. Click is actively advocating for change to protect residents against substantial real estate tax increases.
“I’m watching, advocating and participating to make change,” Rep. Click said.
Tax bills are scheduled to be mailed at the end of January and will be due on Feb. 21. Taxes for 2024 can be viewed on the treasurer’s website at https://senecacountytreasurer.org and the auditor’s website at https://senecacountyauditoroh.gov.