By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Commissioners met on May 12, 2026, to conduct routine business and discuss Property Tax Reform with Marvin Dietsch.
Dietsch, a member of the Williams County Division of the Ohio Farm Bureau, explained that property taxes can negatively affect large-land owners, including farmers. “Farm Bureau has taken a state position that they are not for eliminating all real estate taxes, but they want to combine it and make it fairer,” he stated.
He views real estate taxes as being used in two categories: things like road and sewer maintenance and house-holder direct benefits.
“I personally still support the real estate tax for roads, drainage, and maintenance of those things, because it is proportional to how much (land) you own,” Dietsch explained. “The group of real-estate taxes I am opposed to is house-holder direct benefits.” He stated these benefits include services such as EMS, health, and senior centers.
“All of these are people’s direct benefits that have nothing to do with a business — and it’s just overhead on a business, and it’s a killer. People are complaining about paying taxes on their houses, but we’re paying taxes on the houses but also on our industry, on the land,” he said.
He noted that property taxes extend past just owning a house, and that farmers typically pay per acre on land they own. “That’s the area I am opposed to and working with the Ohio Farm Bureau to get new legislation to separate those two categories.”
Dietsch recommended that the Commissioners look into relying more on sales tax in the future to help fund shortfalls, including the Department of Aging’s current issue.
Commissioner Lirot noted that Williams County faces a more unique issue with raising their sales tax because the county borders two states, Indiana and Michigan. “You don’t want to have your sales tax triple what your neighbors are because they will just go to the neighbors,” he said.
“I think everyone is in agreement that we need reform overall with tax structure and how it gets done in the State of Ohio,” stated Commissioner Westfall.
The Commissioners expressed interest in attending a Williams County Farm Bureau Board meeting. Dietsch stated the next meeting is scheduled to take place on May 21, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the County Agency Office, but the location could be subject to change.
With no further business, the Williams County Commissioners adjourned at 10:48 a.m.