I Received My New Property Value. Does That Mean My Property Taxes Will Go Up?

Many Franklin County homeowners have recently received a notice from the Auditor’s office showing their updated property value as part of the county’s 2026 triennial property value update.  For homeowners in the Hilliard City School District, residential property values increased an average of 11% compared to the 2023 county-wide reappraisal.

A common question we’re hearing is: If my home value went up 11%, does that mean my property taxes will also go up 11%?  The short answer is no.

So Why are Your Property Value and Your Tax Bill Not the Same?

Ohio’s property tax system is more complicated than simply multiplying your home’s value by a tax rate.

For most voter-approved levies, Ohio law does not allow taxing authorities—including school districts—to collect more revenue simply because property values increase. Instead, the total amount collected from a voted levy stays essentially the same, and each property owner’s share is adjusted based on how their home’s value changed compared to other properties in the same taxing district.

In other words, what matters most isn’t just how much your home’s value increased—it’s how your increase compares to everyone else’s.

Here’s a Simple Example

The average increase in the Hilliard City School District is 11%.

• If your home’s value increased about 11%, your share of voted property taxes will generally remain about the same.
• If your home’s value increased more than 11%, you may pay a larger share of the voted taxes.
• If your home’s value increased less than 11%, you may pay a smaller share of the voted taxes.

You may also hear the term inside millage.

Inside millage is the small portion of property taxes that local governments, including school districts, are allowed to collect without voter approval.

A recent change in Ohio law (House Bill 335) limits how much revenue can grow from this portion of property taxes after a county reappraisal. Beginning with the 2026 update, revenue growth from inside millage on existing properties is capped based on inflation, helping prevent significant tax increases that result solely from higher property values.

Every Property Is Different

While the examples above help explain how the system works, every homeowner’s tax bill is unique. Your actual taxes can also be affected by factors such as:

• All levies that apply to your property
• Improvements or additions made to your home since the last appraisal
• How your property’s value changed compared to similar properties in your taxing district

When Will Any Change in My Taxes Take effect?

The County’s Auditor’s notification to property owners of the update property values as a result of the triennial update is the first step in a lengthy process.  These value changes will be used in the calculation for the 2026 tax year/2027 collection year taxes.  

Learn More

If you’d like more information about your property’s updated value or the 2026 triennial update, the Franklin County Auditor has prepared several helpful resources:

• Preliminary 2026 Property Value Changes
• Frequently Asked Questions about the 2026 Reappraisal

These resources can help explain your property’s valuation and answer many common questions homeowners have about the reappraisal process.