FRANKLIN COUNTY BUDGET COMMISSION

Under Ohio law, the main role of the Franklin County Budget Commission is to review the tax budget of every political subdivision within the county. This includes school districts, police and fire districts, county agencies and libraries, as well as cities, villages, and townships.

The Budget Commission is comprised of the County Auditor, County Treasurer and the County Prosecutor and reviews 153 taxing entities. The Commission meets monthly.

The Commission ensures budgets follow state law, checks that the tax levies collected upon are properly authorized by voters or resolution, and that the funds collected from these levies are properly allocated.

Sometimes, a political subdivision may request extra funding through ‘inside millage,’ or that first 10 mills of property tax that is permitted by the Ohio Constitution to be collected without having to be voted upon. The Commission reviews these requests to decide whether to approve based on need.

The Commission also reviews how much money is left in a political subdivision’s bond fund, which is where the funds collected from a bond levy are recorded. If there is significant carryover from the previous year within a bond fund, the Commission can reduce the tax rate of the corresponding bond levy so the amount being collected doesn’t surpass the amount needed to satisfy the bond.

Lastly, the Commission helps to calculate the rates of emergency levies to ensure they will only collect the amount that has been approved by voters.
 
Use the links below to request a tax budget, view this year's meeting schedule, or view the annual Public Notice.