Ohio gubernatorial candidates propose tax cuts to ease household costs

Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton has outlined a plan to return approximately $1,800 to a family of four with an annual income of $60,000 through a working families tax cut. The proposal is part of a broader affordability agenda she intends to implement immediately upon taking office. Acton stated she would issue executive orders on day one to address property taxes, energy bills, and housing costs.

The plan includes a child tax credit of $1,000 annually for children up to age six and $500 for all other minors in households earning up to $85,000. Acton also proposed an earned income credit, a rebate for recent property tax increases, and an expansion of the homestead exemption. She argued that the state could fund these measures by reallocating budget funds currently directed to special interest groups. "It isn't a matter of there not being the money; it's what you put the money to," Acton said. She also expressed confidence in lowering health care costs by renegotiating state debt.

Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy proposed phasing out the state income tax over the next decade. He also aims to roll back property taxes to 2020 levels and cap their future growth. Ramaswamy suggested funding these cuts by reducing what he called government bloat and consolidating public universities. He highlighted his previous work with the legislature to suspend the gas tax as evidence of his focus on lowering costs for families.

In a July interview, Ramaswamy noted that schools performed better on test scores before the pandemic. He argued that this performance suggests the state can afford a reasonable rollback of property taxes to pre-pandemic levels. "We will at once be able to roll back those property taxes, not eliminate them, OK? But a reasonable rollback to where they were just a few years ago before the end of the pandemic," Ramaswamy said.

Libertarian candidate Don Kissick and running mate James Mills proposed eliminating property taxes entirely. They favored local consumption-based taxes instead. The team stated that eliminating corporate welfare for larger institutions and balancing the budget could save money for Ohioans. They also questioned the transparency of the state lottery, noting that funds go into a general education fund and may serve as a stopgap for other budget areas.

Voters in the state have expressed frustration over rising costs for gas, utilities, and groceries. Linette Roberts, a resident of Cleveland, said, "Just everything is going up, and they need to really bring it down." JT Regan stated that basic necessities now take a larger chunk of his paycheck. Dawn Perry described the current gas tax break as depressing and said she had to cut groceries from her budget.

The candidates are responding to these concerns with distinct policy frameworks. Acton focuses on immediate executive action and targeted tax credits. Ramaswamy emphasizes long-term income tax elimination and property tax caps. Kissick and Mills advocate for a structural shift toward consumption-based taxation.