A contrast in local government priorities is playing out right in Northeast Ohio, with Lake and Geauga counties, neighboring jurisdictions with similar challenges, going in separate directions on property tax relief for homeowners.

Monday’s Today in Ohio podcast discussion of reporter Molly Walsh’s story laid out how a new state law lets counties offer tax relief, but at the expense of schools and other agencies that rely on the taxes.

The law, passed in June, gave Ohio counties the option to double the impact of homestead and owner occupancy credits.

“Unlike the existing version of those credits, this expansion comes with no state backfill. So whatever counties decide to shave off homeowners bills is taken directly out of the money that’s flowing to school districts, libraries, heal

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