Election Day is just days away. We’ve been subjected to way too many negative ads for the candidates, but have seen few for the issues that we’ll also be voting on. If you’re unclear on the specifics of the issues, a good place to read about them is at VotersGuide.Dispatch.com. Enter in your home address to review the candidates and issues that will be on the ballot that you’ll be given.
Regarding the issues and how much they will cost in your property taxes, you can find that info on the county auditor’s web site, at least if you live in Franklin County or Delaware County. Both these counties show the levy or levies for your home’s address and show how much it will cost you based on your home’s assessed value.
NOTE: both counties refer to the assessed value as “market” value. Market value is what a buyer is willing to pay to buy your home. The auditor offices have no knowledge of whether your home has upgrades galore or 30-yr old shag carpet. In fact, during our recent meeting with the Franklin County Auditor at the Columbus Board of Realtors®, we asked him to change this wording to “assessed” value, since it’s really an obscure value used to charge property taxes.
Here’s how to check how much a given levy will cost you:
FRANKLIN COUNTY AUDITOR’S SITE
- On the top bar, mouse-over YOUR PROPERTY then click on PROPERTY SEARCH.
- On the left bar, choose to search for your home by NAME or ADDRESS.
- On the left bar, click on CURRENT LEVY INFO.
DELAWARE COUNTY AUDITOR’S SITE
- In the left column, under the title PROPERTY SEARCH, choose to search by your NAME or your ADDRESS.
- In the left column, click on LEVY INFO then click the link to the info.
VOTE SMART … BUT VOTE!
