Ohio property tax abolition campaign drops 2026 ballot bid

Ohio’s Committee to Abolish Ohio Property Taxes announced Friday it will not pursue a ballot initiative for the November 2026 election, instead shifting focus to 2027. The group’s leader, Brian Massie, cited an inability to collect the 620,000 signatures needed—well above the 413,488 minimum—by the July 1 deadline, despite collecting 320,000 signatures earlier this year. The amendment would abolish property taxes in Ohio, eliminating an estimated $21 billion in annual revenue for local governments, including schools. Critics, including a coalition called Ohioans to Protect Public Services, argue the proposal lacks a replacement funding plan and would devastate public services. Jen Detwiler, the coalition’s spokesperson, stated that voters deserve meaningful tax reform rather than a sweeping constitutional change with no clear solution. Massie acknowledged the group’s signature collection fell short but expressed confidence in meeting an even higher target for 2027. He emphasized the group’s strategy of avoiding early disclosure of signature counts to prevent strategic opposition. However, outdated signatures—required to match voters’ current addresses—may further complicate the effort. The decision removes a high-profile ballot issue from the 2026 midterm elections, where Ohioans will vote on governor, U.S. Senate, and state legislative races. Without statewide elections in 2027, voter turnout for a standalone ballot issue could be lower, though past examples like the 2023 abortion-rights amendment show exceptions. State Democrats have separately indicated plans to push redistricting reform in the same election cycle. Opponents continue to campaign against the amendment, framing it as reckless and urging support for incremental tax reform instead. The Committee to Abolish Ohio Property Taxes now has until July 2027 to gather signatures, though Massie declined to specify how many have already been collected.