By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Property values in Wood County have jumped an average of 19% in the past three years – but guardrails established by recent reforms in Ohio will limit the increases seen in property tax bills, according to Wood County Auditor Matthew Oestreich.
Last week, Oestreich announced that new property values are open for inspection by Wood County landowners.
These are the 2026 triennial update values. In Ohio, counties are required to conduct reappraisals of every individual property every six years, with the last one in Wood County being done in 2023. That reappraisal increased values by an average of 25%.
Three years after each reappraisal, counties are required to complete an update that adjusts values based on sales in neighborhoods to better reflect current market conditions. Countywide, residential values increased by an average of 19% due to location, desirability, and condition.
“Wood County is a great place to live and raise a family, and buyers are willing to pay higher prices for the many benefits of living here,” Oestreich said. “Limited housing inventory, higher construction costs driven by inflation, and homeowners holding on to historically low mortgage interest rates have all contributed to rising home prices.”
But the good news for property owners is that recent property tax reforms have significantly changed the relationship between property value and property taxes,” Oestreich said.
House Bills 186 and 335 will limit growth for many levies to the rate of inflation, reducing the impact that increasing property values will have on tax bills. In addition, House Bill 920 continues to ensure that voted levies generally collect the amount originally approved by voters, with millage rates adjusted by the Ohio Department of Taxation as property values change.
Because of these legislative guardrails, a property’s taxes will not increase at a rate anywhere near the 19% increase in market value, Oestreich said.
“Your values are going up. The real estate is worth more,” he said. But tax bills won’t see the same jump. “For the first time it’s not going up as much as it would have with a hot real estate market.”
Of course, the amount of tax bills will also depend on the property tax issues passed by voters in November. The filing deadline for issues to appear on the general election ballot is Aug. 5, at 4 p.m.
Bowling Green area voters will see property tax issues for the Wood County District Public Library, the Wood County Committee on Aging, and the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation. The BG City School District has no levy on the ballot, but Oestreich noted that Eastwood Schools will be asking the voters to support a levy.
The new House Bill 186 will result in school districts being reimbursed by the state – but only for a portion of the amount they typically receive.
“The jury is still out if that’s going to result in more tax levy requests or cuts,” Oestreich said.
Also new is House Bill 479, which doubles the homestead exemptions for next year.
“That’s great for our seniors,” he said. “That’s huge.”
Oestreich also pointed out that the timing of the property tax bills going out to landowners was later than usual this year, with extra time needed for the inflation cap credits.
“We wanted to make sure we got it right,” he said.
The deadline for the bills to be paid has been extended to Aug. 17, he added.
Property owners may review their 2026 values on the auditor’s real estate website at https://auditor.co.wood.oh.us/. Properties may be searched by owner name, address, or parcel number.
Owners are encouraged to review their property’s data for accuracy.
“We strive for fair values, with uniformity always as our top priority, so that similar properties carry an equitable tax burden,” Oestreich said.
Property owners who have questions or would like assistance reviewing their property value may call the auditor’s office at 419-354-9173 or toll free 1-866-860-4140 ext. 9173. They may also visit the office in person on the second floor of the county office building on weekdays between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
