Press Releases

January 22, 2026

Press Release

Clinton County Auditor Terry Habermehl is informing property owners about four newly enacted property tax reform measures designed to begin providing relief to Ohio homeowners starting with second-half real property tax bills later this year.

These changes were driven by a coordinated, statewide effort of all 88 county auditors working through the County Auditors Association of Ohio, in partnership with other elected-official associations. While the initiatives originated from concerns raised by county auditors, they reflect a broad consensus that Ohio’s property tax system required updated safeguards for homeowners. The four reforms were signed into law by Mike DeWine in late 2025 and will begin taking effect during the summer 2026 tax cycle.

Auditor Habermehl is issuing important payment guidance for taxpayers. He is strongly encouraging property owners to pay only their first-half tax bill, not the full year in advance. “Under these new laws, county auditors are not authorized to issue refunds if a taxpayer overpays and their property later qualifies for reduced taxes,” Habermehl said. “Paying only the first-half bill protects taxpayers while these changes are being implemented.”

This is what to expect for second-half tax bills. Adjusted second-half tax bills reflecting these changes will be calculated and mailed before County Treasurer Kyle Rudduck issues second-half billings later this summer. The second-half bills are expected to show a reduced amount compared to the first-half billing, as the newly enacted credits and limitations are applied. The auditor emphasized that not all taxpayers may qualify for property tax reductions under this first set of changes.

At this time, exact dollar amounts are not yet known. All 88 counties are awaiting formal guidance, calculations, and implementation formulas from the Ohio Department of Taxation. This information is necessary for counties to accurately apply the credits, recalculate tax distributions, and ensure county tax software systems properly rebalance and reconcile the required adjustments statewide.

While these laws are complicated and technical in nature, the intent of the four reforms is straightforward: • They limit how quickly property taxes can increase when home values rise sharply • They provide additional protection for owner-occupied homes • They reduce the impact of sudden market-driven valuation spikes • They strengthen safeguards that were never designed for today’s housing market

“These laws recognize that home sale prices over the last several years increased at a pace that Ohio’s existing property tax framework never anticipated,” Habermehl explained.

Ohio’s long-standing tax limitation law, House Bill 920, was designed to prevent runaway taxation, but it did not account for the extraordinary and rapid escalation of residential sale prices experienced statewide since 2020.

“County auditors across Ohio raised serious concerns as we observed sales prices climbing far beyond established appraised values in a very short period of time,” Habermehl said. “These reforms are a direct response to that reality.”

While the relief from future property tax spikes is real, relief will take time. Auditor Habermehl cautioned that homeowners should not expect immediate or dramatic reductions.

“This is not a one-year fix,” he said. “It will take multiple valuation cycles before the full impact of these reforms is realized, but this represents an important first step toward stabilizing property taxes for Ohio homeowners.”

These changes are welcome relief for taxpayers. However, they will also have an impact on local governments. The reforms will result in a direct reduction of revenue to local taxing authorities, including schools, townships, villages, cities, counties, fire districts, and libraries. “That impact was carefully considered,” Habermehl said. “However, protecting homeowners from unsustainable tax increases became a shared priority across the state.”

The Auditor’s Office will continue coordinating with the Ohio Department of Taxation and will provide updates as implementation guidance is finalized.

“We encourage taxpayers to stay informed, ask questions, and most importantly, avoid overpaying until the second-half bills reflecting these changes are issued,” Habermehl said.

1/21/26

Clinton County Auditor Terry Habermehl announced today that Clinton County’s sexennial property tax reappraisal schedule has been adjusted by the Ohio Department of Taxation as part of a statewide realignment of county reappraisal cycles.

Ohio law requires all counties to conduct property valuations on a fixed cycle. A sexennial reappraisal is a comprehensive revaluation of all real property and establishes new values every six years. In addition, counties perform triennial updates every three years, which apply market trends and recent sales data to maintain equity among property owners.

The adjustment to reappraisal schedules follows recommendations from the Governor’s Property Tax Working Group and reflects a long-standing effort to better balance reappraisal workloads across counties statewide. More evenly staggering reappraisal years helps improve efficiency, accuracy, and consistency in the valuation process.

“Rebalancing the sexennial revaluation cycles across Ohio has been an objective of county auditors for many years,” said Christopher Galloway, Vice President of the County Auditors Association of Ohio and a member of the Governor’s Property Tax Working Group. “This approach allows valuation work to be performed more effectively by spreading it more evenly across counties and years.”

As a result of the statewide realignment, Clinton County’s triennial update will continue as scheduled in 2026. However, the county’s next sexennial reappraisal has been moved from 2029 to 2030, after which the county will resume the normal three-year valuation cycle.

“Knowing our reappraisal year has shifted from 2029 to 2030 allows our office to plan accordingly and communicate clearly with residents well in advance,” Habermehl said. “Advance notice and transparency are important so property owners understand the valuation timeline and what to expect.”

11/24/25
Dog tags will officially go on sale December 1, 2025, for the 2026 license year, according to Clinton County Auditor Terry Habermehl. Renewal applications will be mailed to all dog owners who purchased a 2025 license. Auditor Habermehl also reminds families of the ongoing coloring contest promoting the purchase of 2026 dog licenses. Children ages 10 and under are encouraged to stop by the Auditor’s Office or visit the County Auditor’s website for contest details.

The last day to purchase a 2026 dog license without penalty is January 31, 2026. The cost of a single dog license has increased to $18.00, and a kennel license is $90.00 for the 2026 license year. Under Ohio law, late registrations are subject to a penalty equal to the license fee. Beginning February 1, regular tags will cost $36, and kennel licenses will cost $180. Recent changes in Ohio law also allow dog owners to purchase three-year or permanent dog licenses. A three-year license is $54, and a permanent license is $180. This is the first fee increase in 12 years, and Clinton County remains below the statewide average.

Clinton County Sheriff Douglas A. Eastes advises dog owners that enhanced enforcement of dog tag violations will begin in February 2026. Failure to license a dog will result in a citation for each unlicensed animal. Penalties include fines, court costs, and the mandatory purchase of delinquent licenses. Sheriff Eastes emphasizes that license fees directly support the Dog Warden’s Office in carrying out its duties under Ohio Revised Code 955.01–955.261.

Regular dog licenses can be purchased in person at the Clinton County Auditor’s Office during normal business hours. For added convenience, the Auditor’s Office has contracted with Fairfield Licensing to offer online registration. A $2.00 service charge per tag applies to online purchases. Residents may access the licensing website directly https://www.doglicenses.us/OH/Clinton/ or through the link on the Clinton County Auditor’s homepage https://clintoncountyauditor.org/home-page .

From December 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026, the following local retailers are also authorized to sell dog tags for an additional fee: • Buckley Bros Drive Thru • Browns Distributing • BDK Feed & Supply • Village of New Vienna Water Department • D & G’s Paws & Claws Snack Shack • PBS Animal Health

Residents who are unable to visit a participating location may mail their dog and owner information to the Auditor’s Office. A tag will be issued and mailed back. Please include an additional $1.00 processing fee to cover postage and handling.

Kennel Licenses: Kennel licenses can be renewed by mail using the renewal application sent to previously registered kennel owners. New kennel licenses can only be purchased in person at the Clinton County Auditor’s Office located on the Clinton County Administrative Campus. If you have questions about kennel license eligibility, please contact the Auditor’s Office for assistance.