Some Ohioans who are now turning 65 are starting to realize they will not get a property tax break that Ohioans just one year older are getting.
The new tax reform plan that went into effect recently eliminates the homestead tax exemption for all Ohio senior citizens. Now only those who qualify with low incomes will get the break.
Democratic House Representative Nick Barborak supports a bill that would remove the means testing and go back to allowing all Ohioans 65 or older to take advantage of the property tax break.
"Policies like this ought to be vetted in the open and debated in public," says Barborak. "This policy was enacted, put in the budget in the dark of night without any opportunity for those affected to have any input. Our constituents were not(.... given the opportunity to weigh in.
Barborak says Republican House member Ron Hood, one of the most conservative in the Statehouse, is supporting the bill. Hood did not return requests for an interview prior to deadline for this story.
(Story by OPR's Jo Ingles)