Ross County auditor waives fees again, boosting local budgets

Ross County Auditor Jeff Lehner is waiving $450,000 in real estate fees as part of the county’s second half 2025 property tax levy distribution.

According to a community announcement, this move follows similar actions in 2023 and 2024, totaling nearly $1.5 million returned to the budgets of Ross County’s school districts, townships and other levying jurisdictions.

“With this action, we will have cut and returned nearly $1.5 million in excess fees from the auditor’s real estate office budget since I took office,” Lehner said in the announcement. “It’s part of how we’re working to produce a more efficient, responsive Ross County government.”

In Ohio, county auditors calculate levy revenues proportional to each levy’s millage and distribute them to each taxing authority. A fee to fund the auditor’s real estate office operations is withheld from these distributions.

Lehner said he would prefer to return the funds directly to taxpayers, but state law requires these fees be spent or returned to taxing districts via their governing authorities.

“This move is the best available alternative to allowing these funds to sit in the County’s account without a clear need,” he said.

Lehner emphasized the importance of not letting money taxed beyond actual needs sit unused.

“We’re doing what we can in the auditor’s office to stand up for taxpayers; cutting these fees is part of that effort. If we don’t need it, we shouldn’t take it,” he added.

Residents with questions can email Lehner at JeffLehner@RossCountyOhio.gov.

This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Ross County auditor cuts $450K in fees—here’s who gets the money back