Canton City school board to file complaints with the Stark County Board of Revision

Kelli Weir, The Repository
·3 min read
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CANTON − The Canton City school board wants Stark County officials to increase the property values of two dozen commercial lots that recently sold for millions more than their current values.

The board on Monday authorized Park Street Law Group of Columbus to file four complaints with the Stark County Board of Revision to raise the real estate values on lots owned by Canton Webb LLC; Lee & Hernandez LLC; Thomas A. and Kathryn L. Hughes; and SGProspect LLC so the values match the property's purchase price.

“It allows us to make sure that everyone in our community is paying their fair share toward property taxes,” Superintendent Jeff Talbert said.

More on Stark County Board of Revision:Stark County schools tough on property tax appeals

If the Board of Revision, which is comprised of the county auditor, treasurer and a commissioner, sides with the school district, the collective value of the properties would increase by more than $9 million. Schools receive the bulk of property taxes collected.

Law changes how schools pursue Board of Revision complaints

School districts routinely file hundreds of property value complaints with the revision board every year. What’s different now is that a state law that took effect in July – Ohio Revised Code Section 5715.19 – requires the school board to approve pursuing the complaints during a public meeting. Previously, school boards delegated the responsibility to school administrators.

The new law also limits complaints to properties where the selling price is both 10% higher and at least $500,000 more than the value set by the county auditor.

School leaders say their complaints meet the law’s parameters:

  • Canton Webb of California bought the building that houses Union Metal at 1432 Maple Avenue NE along with nine other properties along Maple Avenue for $6.1 million in March 2021. The county auditor lists the collective value of the properties at nearly $2.8 million.

  • Lee & Hernandez of Wadsworth purchased the building that houses Penn Station, a dentist's office and other retail stores on the corner of Tuscarawas Street W and Whipple Avenue SW for nearly $3.6 million in December 2021. The auditor listed its value in 2022 at $852,300.

  • Thomas and Kathryn Hughes of Pennsylvania bought the Rite Aid at 3720 Tuscarawas St. W and its parking lot for $3.35 million in March 2020. The auditor listed the value in 2022 as nearly $2 million.

  • SGProspect of Florida bought 11 properties for $3.85 million in April 2021. The properties include the building at 1502 12th St. SW that houses Midwest ComTel Inc. and land along Prospect Avenue SW, 11th Street SW and Camden Avenue SW that sits behind the building. The auditor valued the properties collectively at $1.95 million in 2022.

School board moves ahead with Johnson Controls efficiency study

In other business, the school board on Monday:

  • Agreed to allow Johnson Controls, at no cost to the district, to evaluate the district's older buildings for potential efficiency upgrades.

  • Transferred $900,000 from the district’s main operating fund to athletics to fill a gap between revenue and expenses.

  • Accepted the resignation of Harold “Ben” Carter, coordinator of the district’s College and Career Technical Education, retroactive to March 3.

  • Accepted the retirement of William Weidner, coordinator of the district’s television channels, effective July 31.

  • Recognized school resource assistants and truancy specialists as members of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 161. Six employees will receive union benefits.

Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.

On Twitter: @kweirREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton schools asks Stark Board of Revision to hike values of 24 lots