Delaware County Commissioners reduce 2026 property tax rate again, saving homeowners about $7.1 million

DELAWARE — Delaware County homeowners will see another reduction in the county’s property tax rate for 2026, a move expected to save taxpayers about $7.1 million.

On Monday, Delaware County Commissioners approved an additional reduction in the rate of taxation on real property in Delaware County, lowering the inside-millage tax rate that the county levies for current expenses from 1.8 mills to 1.3 mills.

The 0.5-mill reduction is only for the 2026 tax year, which will be collected in 2027.

What is inside millage?

Inside millage is property tax that local governments can collect without voter approval. Under Ohio law, local taxing authorities can collect up to 10 mills in inside millage, equal to 1% of a property’s taxable value.

One mill equals $1 in tax for every $1,000 of taxable property value.

County Auditor George Kaitsa said the new 1.3-mill rate would cost a homeowner $15.19 per $100,000 of market value. The calculation is based on property values assessed by the auditor’s office earlier this year, which are awaiting approval from the Ohio Department of Taxation.

Commissioners previously reduced the rate from 2.8 mills to 1.8 mills for tax year 2025.

“In the last year, year and a half maybe, the property tax issue has come to the forefront across the state and here we were, doing these rollbacks several years before that,” Commissioner Jeff Benton said.

Benton said the county continues to implement tax rollbacks because it’s fiscally conservative with its spending and financially efficient through things such as bond refinancing.

County first implemented tax rollbacks in 1997

Although commissioners have approved similar reductions annually since 2022, the county’s practice of rolling back its inside millage dates back nearly three decades.

The county began approving temporary reductions in 1997. Then, in 2007, commissioners established a continuing 1-mill reduction, lowering the county’s inside millage for current operating expenses from 2.8 mills to 1.8 mills.

Since 2022, commissioners have approved additional temporary reductions to that 1.8-mill rate.

“Our estimate, over time since 1997, is that between all of the rollbacks, the county residents have saved over $258 million,” County Administrator Tracie Davies said.

Last year, commissioners approved a similar reduction in the collection rate from 1.8 mills to 1.3 mills, effective only for the 2025 tax year.

“This reduction was first implemented back in 2023 and provides real estate tax relief to property owners in the county,” County Finance Director Justin Nahvi told commissioners.

“Again, if approved for next year, the annual savings are about $7.1 million,” he said. “And since 2023, the estimated savings are about $32 million.”

The four previous rollbacks provided roughly $24.9 million in tax relief to date. The estimated value of the 2026 rollback will provide over $7 million in tax relief, bringing the total to $32 million, according to a press release.

Commissioners essentially renewed the temporary reduction for another year. Because the additional reduction is not permanent, the county could allow the rate to return to 1.8 mills in a future tax year.

Other business

In other business, county commissioners also authorized a request for statements of qualifications for architectural and engineering design services for a new soil and water storage facility.

Delaware County Soil and Water District Deputy Administrator Bret Bacon said the district’s current storage space is full.

The new storage facility will be on the Byxbe Campus, where the DCSWD’s office is, and Director of Facilities Jon Melvin said he expects construction will begin within the first quarter of 2027.

Melvin also estimates the project will cost $500,000, paid for by existing funds in the Drainage Maintenance Fund.

Commissioners also approved an agreement selecting Korda/Nemeth Engineering Inc. for design services for the replacement of the Cheshire Road bridge over Alum Creek State Park road.

Construction work on the project is not set to begin until 2029 or 2030, Delaware County Engineer’s Office Administrator Lee Bodnar told commissioners.

The design work costs $96,332 and Bodnar told commissioners 95% of construction costs, which will be determined later, will be covered through a grant.