OLC Part of Statewide Coalition Raising Awareness on Property Tax Impacts

The Ohio Library Council (OLC) is serving on the Steering Committee of Ohioans to Protect Public Services, a broad-based, statewide coalition working to raise awareness about what is at stake if property taxes are eliminated without a plan to replace the revenue.

The coalition recently launched a new website, video, and informational tools to help Ohioans better understand the critical role property taxes play in funding essential local services. 

Property taxes account for nearly two-thirds of all local tax revenue—more than $21.4 billion annually—and support public safety, education, public libraries, and vital services for seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities. While concerns about rising property taxes are real, eliminating them entirely without a replacement plan would create significant fiscal challenges for communities across the state.

Impact on Ohio’s Public Libraries

For Ohio’s public libraries, the consequences would be immediate and severe. Abolishing property taxes would eliminate more than half of all library funding, leaving libraries with no way to replace the lost revenue. This would almost certainly result in:

❌ Reduced hours or branch closures

❌ Cuts to essential programs such as early literacy, summer reading, and workforce development

❌ Loss of access to technology, high-speed internet, and digital resources

❌ Fewer services for seniors, job seekers, students, and families who rely on libraries every day

Recent polling shows that Ohio’s public libraries are locally supported, widely used, and deeply trusted. Libraries remain essential community hubs that promote early literacy, support education, and expand economic opportunity in every region of the state.

Educating Ohioans on What’s at Stake

This coalition effort is focused on ensuring Ohioans have clear, accurate information about how local services are funded and what could be lost without a replacement for property tax revenue.

Rising property taxes are a serious concern but abolishing them abruptly means every local community will immediately face massive cuts in services. 

Ohio deserves thoughtful, responsible solutions—not a rushed approach that risks destabilizing the services communities depend on every day.

To learn more about the coalition and see a full list of members, visit ProtectPublicServices.org.

In addition, the OLC has updated the Public Libraries and Property Taxes Fact Sheet which is available on the OLC website.