WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners are expected to send a joint letter asking state officials to reverse a property tax increase experienced by property owners in Trumbull County and across the state.

Commissioner Tony Bernard asked his fellow commissioners to pass a resolution stating that the record-breaking increases in home valuations and property taxes are hurting the pocketbooks of Ohio taxpayers.

“Presently, the state of Ohio has the sixth-largest property tax in the nation,” Bernard said. “It is out of hand. A copy of this resolution will go to our state legislators, state representatives, our state senator, the ways and means committee.”

Bernard said something must be done to help reduce the cost of homeownership for Ohio residents.

“Something needs to be done,” Commissioner Rick Hernandez agreed. “There are other states where homesteading is done differently. Actually, we are not getting the full homestead elimination.”

“It is our duty to push this to relieve these property taxes that are continuing to escalate,” he said, noting the property revaluations are done at the state level and no local officials are responsible for them.

Bernard said the resolution is a first step.

“I think we are going to see some movement with the state, hopefully,” he said. “People on fixed incomes and veterans are being affected.”

Hernandez suggested working with the Mahoning County commissioners in the battle to reverse the property tax increases.