Chillicothe — Mayor Luke Feeney suggested a different way for the city to reduce property taxes in the first part of his his briefing to council on Monday evening – but council passed their resolution to do it their way on first reading.
Hear both Feeney and Creed in their own words below.
On November 10th, 2025, Feeney said he applauded the effort by council and other local governments to reduce property tax burdens, but he cautioned that the city is facing the single largest reduction of workforce, and thus tax revenue, with the closing of Pixelle: about 850 employees and $1.5M from a single employer.
“We have a ton of uncertainties going into next year,” yet he said the city may be voluntarily reducing its tax revenue by an unknown extent.
Feeney said that what council was proposing would give a minimal return to homeowners, especially those in the Unioto school district within city limits. He said property owners can appeal their taxes on their own to try to reduce them.
Instead, he asked council to consider other options, such as a rebate to owner-occupied homes instead. But, he said he won’t veto the resolution if council passes it – which they did, unanimously.
Jeff Creed, the sponsor of the legislation, explained council’s intent and method for the tax relief. He said the city gets 3.2 mils of property taxes, which come out to $1.7M a year, which will go up about 30% with approaching tax reevaluations forced at the state level.
Creed had reviewed what state law allows the city to do, He said that of those 3.2 mils, 0.3 mil goes to police and another 0.3 to the city fire department, which the city can’t reduce on its own.
But he said it can reduce the remaining 2.6 mils, and council unanimously voted to do so on first reading Monday because of time constraints. Creed said that gave back about 15% to taxpayers, about $270K total.
He said it is a small amount – $30 to 40 for a $200K home – but it adds up, especially with townships already pulling back taxes. The intent is to help homeowners, but he said it applies to any property for the 2025 tax year to be paid in 2026.
Creed said it’s money the city could use…but they will just have to be more disciplined.
