Ohio Senate OKs plan to clear YMHA tax liability

Staff report

COLUMBUS

State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, announced that her plan that allows the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority to correct an old real-estate tax liability issue cleared the Ohio Senate and is headed to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.

The measure passed the Ohio House of Representatives in February.

YMHA completed renovations to its Rockford Village development on the East Side in 1999 and 2000, but, due to a clerical error, failed to reapply for the property’s tax-exempt status.

The total Rockford Village tax debt, which has been accumulating since 2002, includes at least $1.35 million in tax, $178,000 in penalties and $374,000 in interest.

“On behalf of the YMHA, the families it serves and the residents of the city of Youngstown, I would like to thank the leadership of both parties as well as the members of the Senate and House for supporting this important, common-sense legislation,” Lepore-Hagan said.

“My amendment will allow YMHA to get back to focusing on helping those in our community who are most in need without having an unfair debt hanging over their head,” she added.

The tax-amnesty language was contained in House Bill 390 – tax-related legislation to which lawmakers added several last-minute provisions.

The measure empowers the Ohio Tax Commissioner to place Rockford Village on the tax-exempt list and abate all unpaid taxes, interest and penalties owed on the property.