Cuyahoga County and CHN Housing Partners have teamed up to offer qualified seniors up to $10,000 of one-time property tax relief. The money can be used to help pay current taxes, late or delinquent taxes, foreclosure fees and tax lien certificates. Residents can submit an interest form to “hold their place in line,” according to County Treasurer Brad Cromes.
Technically, Cuyahoga County Council still needs to approve the program, according to Cromes. The program will be introduced during Tuesday’s council meeting and is expected to be fully in place by December, he said.
The program comes on the heels of rising property taxes across Cuyahoga County. After a recent appraisal by the county, property values are expected to rise 32% on average. East Cleveland and Maple Heights jumped significantly higher, with nearly 60-70% increases in values.
“We want every resident to stay in their home and live out their lives in Cuyahoga County long-term.”
Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne
County officials have warned against confusing rising values with rising taxes. However, many are still concerned about how the increase could push people out of their homes. One of the most vulnerable groups is people on fixed incomes, such as seniors.
“We want every resident to stay in their home and live out their lives in Cuyahoga County long-term,” County Executive Chris Ronayne told residents during a meeting hosted in North Olmsted on Oct. 21.
“It’s a serious problem and we have serious solutions,” Ronayne said. The county’s program is similar to statewide legislation – known as 70 under 70 (House Bill 263) – that has been stalled in Columbus since February.
Although the state has introduced legislation to help seniors, it’s been gridlocked along with other efforts to provide residents tax relief. Why? Because of in-fighting between two Ohio state representatives.
The county said it cannot rush a statewide response, but can “help seniors weather the present crisis,” according to a memo released by the Treasurer’s Office. The local response from the county mirrors a statewide effort to increase the Homestead Exemption. The legislation – dubbed The Ohio Homeowner Relief Act (House Bill 187) – hasn’t moved since 2023.
CHN Housing Partners is set to oversee the application process for the program. Residents who meet the eligibility requirements will have their applications processed on a first-come, first-served basis, according county officials.
How to apply for Cuyahoga County’s property tax relief program for eligible seniors
The program is for county residents who are at least 70 years old and make less than $70,000 per year. Residents must also be the primary or joint homeowner with an active “certified tax delinquency.”
A certified tax delinquency is a tax bill that hasn’t been paid for a full tax collection cycle, Cromes told Signal Cleveland. Tax payers in that status should have received multiple tax bills notifying them of their delinquency, he said.
People who make it into the program will also be required to use EasyPay – an installment payment program – to pay future taxes and attend housing counseling sessions. The county treasurer’s office set aside $5 million to pay for the program services over a two-year period.
The money is only available one time per household. Homeowners who have participated in Ohio’s Housing Finance Agency’s Utility Assistance Plus Program are not eligible.
The county also announced its plans for more “tax talks” with residents on available property tax relief options. The next one is scheduled for Nov. 14 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Garfield Heights Civic Center located at 5407 Turney Rd.
Interested in applying for property tax relief? Fill out the interest form where you’ll be asked to provide proof of residence, income and other household information. For more information, please visit the county’s website.
