My property taxes have soared to $18,000. DeWine must do something about school funding.

Pat Smith is a former teacher, local and state school board president, executive assistant for educational policy at Ohio’s Office of Budget and Management and grant reviewer for the U.S. departments of Education and Labor. Patsmith10@sbcglobal.net

We are feeling the financial sting of one this state's biggest failures.

We are more than two months into yet another year without a comprehensive solution to the Ohio Supreme Court finding that Ohio’s method of funding education is unconstitutional due to its overreliance on local real property taxes.

This is the case even with the state’s recent move to the Ohio Fair School Funding Plan that provides an inputs-based funding model that includes greater equity by counting both local property tax and personal income wealth.

My property taxes have gone through the roof

Unfortunately, these changes find property taxpayers paying more – much more in some cases.

For example, the annual taxes for my Franklin County property 20 years ago were $6,000. For that same property with no improvements and no changes in the neighborhood, my taxes this year are $18,000.

These increases are particularly onerous for senior citizens on fixed incomes. And while seniors’ incomes may be fixed, their expenses are not.

GOP lawmakers have made Ohio unwelcoming . And plan to eliminate state income tax hurts us.

Seniors usually have to pay more for dental and medical care, medications, transportation, prepared food, and help with chores they can no longer handle themselves. Any windfall they may get from selling their homes will likely be taken away when they move to a new home in an ever-inflating housing market.

Other states treat their seniors better.

For example, they freeze seniors’ property taxes at age 65. After all, these folks have spent decades paying good amounts to educate their communities’ children – what most of the property taxes go for.

It is time Ohio did something about school funding

At least the property tax dilemma is getting some long overdue attention.

The Dispatch ran a full-page editorial on the matter; and the Franklin County Auditor published two lengthy explanations of the situation, pointing out that any remedy must come from the Ohio Legislature.

Yes, he means the same body that for so many years has ignored the court’s ruling.

Seems this might be a good time for Gov. Mike DeWine to appoint a blue-ribbon panel to delve into the situation. After all, to his great credit, he bravely entered the Reading Wars.

In the past we have had Little Hoover Commissions, the Governor’s Commission, 2000, and the Gillmor/Cupp Panel on School Expenditures. And members had solid data they could rely on from the now defunct (and missed) Ohio Public Expenditure Council.

A focused blue-ribbon panel could hold open hearings and coverage would be available on local TV stations and online.

Who knows, the hearings just might result in improved school funding and productivity so that student learning improves, and taxpayers get better returns on their investments in public education.

Pat Smith is a former teacher, local and state school board president, executive assistant for educational policy at Ohio’s Office of Budget and Management and grant reviewer for the U.S. departments of Education and Labor. patsmith10@sbcglobal.net

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Can seniors afford to live in Ohio? My $18,000 tax bill says 'no.'