Ohio farmland

The first bill introduced in the 2023 Ohio House is drawing quick opposition from Ohio Farm Bureau. House Bill 1 would create a flat income tax of 2.75%, but what is catching the ire of Ohio’s largest farm organization is a change to the property tax system that, if passed, could give landowners in rural Ohio an increase in their tax bill. In fact, according to the Legislative Service Commission, net taxes charged to owners of residential and agricultural real property would increase an estimated $929 million if this legislation were to become law.

“Property taxes are the most costly tax a farmer pays due to the nature of how they impact production agriculture directly,” said Brandon Kern, senior director of state and national policy with Ohio Farm Bureau, during his testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee in Columbus earlier this week. “Property tax is a tax on agriculture’s most important production asset, farmland. The proposal in HB 1 to repeal the 10% property tax rollback is a significant concern for our members.”

When considering the full spectrum of taxes, Ohio Farm Bureau members have crafted a policy that ranks each type of tax from most palatable to least, based on the costliness and impact of each tax-type on farming production. Given this policy, Farm Bureau takes a holistic approach when reviewing tax proposals. This policy allows Farm Bureau to support or oppose tax reform proposals that take on a number of different forms, according to Kern’s testimony.

“HB1 is a perfect example of a tax proposal that can present mixed results through the lens of our tax policy,” Kern said. “While we welcome policies that help lower the income tax burden on our members, we are very concerned HB 1 will increase property taxes on many, many farm operations.”

Kern told the committee that while Ohio Farm Bureau supports the goal of continuing tax reform in the state, the changes made to property taxes in HB 1 will have significant negative impacts on agriculture in Ohio and urged the removal of the property tax provisions in the bill.

Action Alert

While our organization supports the goal of continuing tax reform in Ohio, the changes made to property taxes in HB 1 will have significant negative impacts on agriculture in Ohio. We urge the removal of the property tax provisions in the bill. Please contact your state representative to urge them to consider changes to HB 1.

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Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
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Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

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Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
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Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
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Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
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Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
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Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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