GEAUGA COUNTY, Ohio — A letter sent by Geauga County Commissioner Carolyn Brakey to school districts, townships and other taxing authorities asking for feedback on a possible local property-tax exemption under House Bill 96 drew criticism Thursday.

The Oct. 16 letter—obtained by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer through a public-records request to West Geauga Local Schools—outlined the potential financial impacts of a “piggyback” property-tax exemption and asked agencies to respond by Nov. 17.

The letter, co-signed by County Auditor Charles Walder, warned that while HB 96 is intended to provide property-tax relief, any locally created exemption would reduce revenue for every taxing entity in Geauga County because it would be funded locally, not by the state.

Brakey and Walder told agen

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