HBAC 161: Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano

The wider ‘Ax the Tax’ movement came up short for the November ballot this year but nonetheless provided a challenging spur to the status quo.On this installment, the usual Beacon Boys and local ace Paul Lambert host the Franklin County Auditor as projected home values hit doorsteps around Columbus and start the cycle of argument and education all over again.We’re ‘lovers and understanders’ here at the pod so we chose education this time out and Auditor Stinziano proved a capable teacher! ResourcesPrimary Website of the Auditorhttps://auditor.franklincountyohio.gov/Home‘Know Your Home Value’ website and toolshttps://audr-kyhv.franklincountyohio.gov/Topics Discussed* Role of the Franklin County Auditor and responsibilities beyond property taxes* Consumer protection through Weights & Measures inspections* Government transparency and public trust* Political and professional background* How the Auditor’s Office is funded* Understanding Ohio’s HB 920 and why higher property values do not automatically mean higher taxes* Public misconceptions about property tax increases* The impact of neighborhood appreciation on individual homeowners* The 2026 Franklin County property reappraisal process* How homeowners can review or discuss their tentative valuation* Housing affordability, density, and future residential development* Ohio’s “Axe the Tax” movement and property tax reform* Tax Increment Financing (TIFs) and economic development incentives* JobsOhio transparency and accountability* Data center incentives and their long-term community impact* Hilliard Development Corporation and local economic development transparency* Understanding county government and why residents should pay attention to county officesWe really appreciate the Auditor’s office making this conversation possible.Much of our discussion, thanks to Paul’s understanding and background knowledge, centered on Ohio’s HB 920, the law that prevents most voter-approved levies from generating windfall revenue simply because property values rise. The Auditor emphasized that an increase in a home’s valuation does not automatically produce a proportional increase in property taxes. Instead, new levies approved by voters remain the primary driver of long-term tax increases, though changes in neighborhood valuations and recent sales trends can shift tax burdens among individual property owners.Beyond the always thorny property taxes, we discussed broader issues affecting Central Ohio, including housing affordability, increasing residential density planning, tax incentives, JobsOhio transparency, and the rapid expansion of data centers. Stinziano said transparency remains essential in public economic development programs and expressed support for making more information readily available to taxpayers.As usual, we narrow the focus with a look at local accountability, including questions about the Hilliard Development Corporation, and a broad reminder that county government still plays a large role in the day to day lives of every Ohioan.The Hilliard Beacon is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hilliardbeacon.substack.com/subscribe