Insights
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Our Current Property Tax System:
Budget vs Actual Revenue The Montgomery County property tax system is designed to estimate revenue, set a budget, and fund services for residents. Each year, officials establish expected property tax collections before the year begins. However, when we compare those projections to actual results, a clear pattern emerges. Year after year, more revenue comes in…
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Ohio Checkbook Montgomery County:
What I Found and Why Transparency Matters In a previous post, I introduced Ohio Checkbook and discussed the importance of making public information easier for taxpayers to access and understand. This week, I decided to take a closer look at what information is actually available throughout Montgomery County. What I found was encouraging. Several local…
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Montgomery County Government Transparency:
Can Taxpayers Easily Find Public Spending Information? Every year, Montgomery County residents pay property taxes that help fund schools, public safety, libraries, parks, road maintenance, county services, and local government operations. Most taxpayers understand that these services require funding. However, many residents struggle to answer a simple question: Where does the money actually go? As…
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Riverside City Council Meeting Recap:
How Accurate Records Protect Taxpayers and Improve City Services The Riverside City Council meeting on June 15 provided one of the most interesting examples I have seen so far of how local governments rely on accurate records, audits, and verification processes to serve residents effectively. With eight residents in attendance and a meeting livestreamed on…
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Property Tax Reality in Montgomery County:
When “Paper Gains” Don’t Match Real Life Property tax reform in Montgomery County has never been more urgent—especially as new reappraisal numbers highlight a growing disconnect between rising property values on paper and the reality in our neighborhoods. According to recent reporting, residential property values increased 19% in just one year, with an overall $7…
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Property Tax Transparency:
Why I’m Running for Montgomery County Auditor Property tax transparency is one of the biggest concerns I hear everywhere I go in Montgomery County. Whether I am attending a city council meeting, speaking with homeowners, or meeting with seniors living on fixed incomes, the message remains the same: people want answers. They want to know…
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New Lebanon Council Meeting Recap:
Infrastructure Concerns, Public Discourse, and Transparency The New Lebanon Council meeting recap from June 2, 2026, left a lasting impression—and not entirely for the reasons I expected. I attended the meeting with someone who had never attended a council meeting before. As we arrived, we expected to learn about community issues, hear updates from local…
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Jefferson Township Trustee Meeting Recap
Transparency, Detailed Reporting, and Community Improvements The Jefferson Township Trustee meeting recap from June 2, 2026, provided something I always appreciate when attending local government meetings: Details. Unlike some communities where information can be difficult to access before a meeting, Jefferson Township made participation easy. Although I was unable to locate an agenda online beforehand,…
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Trotwood City Council Meeting Recap:
An Example of Growth, Leadership, and Community Engagement The Trotwood City Council meeting recap from June 1, 2026, left me with a positive impression before the meeting even began. Arriving early gave me the opportunity to drive through portions of the Trotwood Industrial Park, where several businesses continue to grow and expand. Seeing that investment…
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What Would Real Ohio Property Tax Reform Actually Look Like?
For quite some time now, many homeowners across Ohio have been asking an important question: If property taxes continue rising, where is all of the additional money going? That conversation has often been dismissed, minimized, or redirected. Yet now, lawmakers themselves are introducing new legislation that specifically addresses surplus funds and excess collections within portions…