Auditor who proposed consolidating Ohio schools to ease property tax burden explains idea

TOLEDO, Ohio — The Lake County auditor who suggested consolidating Ohio’s school districts to ease the property tax burden says the idea is only one part of a broader conversation on tax reform.

Christopher Galloway, who also serves on the governor’s property tax reform work group, said he raised the concept on his own.

“I want to be clear that this idea was mine and mine alone,” Galloway said.

According to Galloway, 60-70% of property tax bills go to schools. He said state leaders must discuss how education funding factors into tax bills.

“One of the things that we have to be willing to put on the table is the idea of consolidating within our state from 611 school districts down to 94,” Galloway said.

He emphasized that consolidation is just one of more than a dozen ideas being revie