Everyone hates taxes, but we do need some government. You can ask whether a dollar provides more benefit in the government budget or in your own pocket. You can also ask whether a dollar provides more benefits in the schools or in the police department. But the issue that Ohio voters may need to decide soon is whether to abolish the property tax. Most of those who want to retain the property tax have argued that particular government functions, such as education or county services, are very important. That is correct, but here I want to discuss taxes.
The big three taxes for combined state and local government in Ohio are general sales, income, and property. Each has typically provided about one-quarter of state and local revenue (that excludes federal aid), with the other quarter coming from a patchwork of fees for licenses and services and specific revenues from gambling, tobacco, alcohol, etc.
All three major taxes damage the economy. We hope that the benefit from the government services exceeds the damage from the taxes, so it is important to rely on the least damaging tax. The standard rule in tax theory is that, if you tax something, you will get less of it. If you tax income, the rich move to Florida. Those who stay work inefficiently on their own houses and cars, rather than more productively in the market. People may work for cash or barter to evade taxes. Anyway, why would government want to discourage work?
Read the rest here: https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2025/11/why-ohio-must-keep-the-property-tax-william-s-peirce.html