Cleveland retiree concerned about higher property taxes says her home’s value doubled after county reassessment

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Dorothy Williams has lived in her Kinsman neighborhood home for 41 years.

On Tuesday, she was shocked to receive a letter from the Cuyahoga County Treasurer listing the newly assessed value of her property.

“I almost fainted, but thank God I didn’t. But that’s very high,” Williams said.

Her home was previously valued at $18,700. The county said the value is now $40,000.

“They weren’t inside or anywhere else, they just came in from outside,” Williams said. “Painted the porch and the fence and then they say, ‘Oh,’ that’s how much it’s worth.”

Williams said she qualifies for the Homestead Exemption Program.

It is a nationwide program that reduces the property tax burden of eligible retirees and permanently or totally disabled homeowners, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses of officers killed in the line of duty by exempting a portion of the market value of their homes from taxes.

According to the Cuyahoga County Treasurer’s website, Williams’ property taxes will increase from an estimated $0 in 2024 to an estimated $432 in 2025.

“There is no such thing as a fixed income,” said Williams. “Many older people like me don’t have that.”

Williams said this property tax increase will affect her neighbors who are also on fixed incomes.

“How can they allow this to happen to seniors,” Williams said. “We stand to lose a lot if we allow them to raise our property taxes that high.”

The county is hosting a live virtual event on its Facebook, Instagram and X pages to answer taxpayer questions.

The district said taxpayers can send their questions in advance to the following address: [email protected] or ask in the comments during the event.

In addition, there are four in-person community meetings scheduled.

• Monday, July 29, 2024
  Church of Saint Agnes, Our Lady of Fatima
  6800 Lexington Avenue
  Cleveland, Ohio 44103
  6pm-8pm
• Tuesday, July 30, 2024
  Tri-C Eastern Campus Theater
  4250 Richmond Road
  Highland Hills, OH 44122
  6pm-8pm
• Wednesday, July 31, 2024
  Tri-C Western Campus Theater
  11000 W. Pleasant Valley Road
  Parma, OH 44130
  6pm-8pm
• Thursday, August 1, 2024
  Municipal Community School
  4909 Lorain Avenue
  Cleveland, Ohio 44102
  6pm-8pm

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