Dear Editor,

Does everyone in the Belmont County courthouse and elected representatives in Columbus hate property owners?

Over 300 upset property owners gathered at Undo’s (Wednesday) to plan self-defense measures concerning the highest property tax increases in Ohio history. Every Undo’s parking spot was full well before the meeting started. It was standing room only.

Everyone knows if taxes are not paid the government can confiscate all property. People must pay taxes, regardless if they feed kids, pay mortgages, heat the house or buy clothes. The government takes their amount off the top, good or bad years, profit or loss years.

Belmont County-taxed properties are car dealerships, farms, pizza shops, tire stores, homes, restaurants, and any deeded properties. The tax man finds them all. When taxes increase, products and services cost more to produce and that is always passed on to consumers.

One farm owner said after the drought of 2024 it was their least profitable year — this is not a wise time for Belmont County elected representatives to raise taxes. It a good year to lower taxes.

Others are employing legal assistance to help them defend their property from up to 400% tax increases. Are courts the only answer?

President Trump has the highest approval rating of any incoming president due to eliminating wasteful government spending.

Has Gov. DeWine and Belmont County elected representatives watched anything going on nationally?

Do they realize the way to be loved/reelected is reduce the dastardly tax burden?

There is a natural balance. When government grows, private enterprise shrinks. When taxes increase, private property reduces values. At this minute people are leaving many states including Illinois and New York and moving to states with low private property tax.

Can the elected ones in Ohio sense this sucking-away factor?

We all want the elected representatives to use good judgment, not toss property owners to the wolves.

Surely everyone has noticed the habits of elected representatives.

The most costly tax increases and public indebtedness always hit right after election. Could this strategy be a gamble that citizens will all forget their brutal-greedy actions before reelection time?

Why does Belmont County need 30%-40% more money? Has anyone in Ohio government considered reducing government size?

Is there even one “dog-catcher” that could be eliminated?

The answer is that elected ones believe they can spend money better than property owners. If they confiscate the money they will find a way to spend it–and unfortunately they can increase taxes again next year, if they still hold office.

Wouldn’t it be great if Belmont County and Ohio hard working property owners could ever elect “advocates” rather than power-hungry regulators?

Darol Dickinson

Belmont Co. landowner

Barnesville