DEAR EDITOR:

In response to the “Letter to the Editor” by Christine Statler of Nov. 2 questioning my competence and inquiring where I received my education, Warren JFK HS, John Carroll University BA Economics, Case Western Reserve University MBA Banking and Finance. I am also a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant.

My comments to the Vindicator clearly were not a complaint or threat about people not paying their taxes on time. All county auditors in the state of Ohio are required by law to run this notice twice each year and to publish the list in a paper of general circulation. As a courtesy I let taxpayers know the deadlines for avoiding inclusion on the delinquent list since many people miss the legal notice in the Vindicator.

Ms. Statler’s references to percentage of increase for property taxes does not describe how property taxes are calculated. The Auditor’s Office conducts a county-wide reappraisal every six years as required by law and the new values set for each parcel are based on sales in each neighborhood.

Typically, if your property value increased more than the average in your district, you would see an increase in your taxes and conversely, if your property value increased by less than the average in your district, you would actually see a decrease in your taxes. In Ms. Statler’s case, the increase in assessed value was 68%, and the average increase for that taxing district was 37.38%, therefore the taxes on this property would increase (public records), even as the effective tax rate decreased from 58.76 mills to 46.87 mills.

Voters in each district vote for or against levies in their district which then determine the tax rates used in calculating property taxes. As property assessed values go up, effective tax rates adjust downward. Voted levies cannot collect more than the voters approved. Legislators determine the tax structure as to how property taxes are calculated. All laws have been followed in setting your value and calculating your taxes.

Property tax charges increased 9% in total from 2023 to 2024 for all properties in Mahoning County. Some property taxes went up and some went down, and this includes commercial and industrial properties as well residential and agricultural properties.

My county auditor website contains information on valuations, tax rates, property tax collections, property tax distributions and much more. I encourage taxpayers to visit this website to become informed.

Ms. Statler’s references to Social Security bear no relevance to property taxes. She can question my mathematical abilities, but I have made a successful living using these abilities for over 50 years.

Ralph T. Meacham,

CPA CGMA

Mahoning County auditor