The Problem
In five years, rents in the Columbus metro area have risen more than 30 percent. The average rent in Reynoldsburg now tops $1,200 per month — and many families spend well over 40 percent of their income just on housing. That leaves little left for food, healthcare, childcare, or savings. Homeownership — once the primary vehicle for building family wealth — is increasingly out of reach for working people in District 3.
At the same time, homeowners are being squeezed by school levies that drive up property costs. The state has failed to fund public education adequately — and the bill gets passed down to local homeowners. Stacie believes the state needs to fix its funding, not keep pushing the burden onto families.
Stacie's Plan
- Increase funding for owner-occupied and homestead tax credits to reduce the housing cost burden on District 3 homeowners
- Fund the Cupp-Patterson Fair School Funding Plan to reduce the school levy burden on homeowners — when the state pays its share, local property taxes go down
- Lower the Homestead Tax Credit qualifying age from 65 to 60 and raise the income limit from $40,000 to $50,000 to help more families
- Expand the Owner-Occupied Tax Credit rollback from 2.5% to 3.5% to put money back in the pockets of homeowners
- Propose a Farmers Property Tax Credit — a 2% reduction on assessment — to help farmers in Pickaway and Madison counties stay on their land
- Fight for development policies that serve the families already living in District 3, not outside investors
Lower Taxes Through Smart Policy
Stacie Baker is not looking to raise your taxes. He is fighting to expand the credits and exemptions that let working families and seniors stay in their homes. By fully funding public education at the state level — through the Cupp-Patterson plan — he can reduce the levy burden that drives up local property taxes.
With 15 years serving Franklin County and experience as Finance Committee Chair on Reynoldsburg City Council, Stacie understands how state funding decisions ripple down to every household in District 3. He will use that knowledge to fight for real property tax relief in the Ohio Senate.
