More than 100 concerned northeast Ohio homeowners expressed their concerns to Cuyahoga County leaders, over what they call "huge and unfair" property reappraisals.
Residents vented their concerns during a public meeting at the Franklin Circle Christian Church in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood on August 28.
Cleveland homeowner Jane Knoblauch told members of the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office that she believes the reappraisals have created massive spikes in property values on that could force some residents to move out.
"A house that is very similar to mine is hardly going up in value, while my house is going from $38,600 to $107,700," Knoblauch said.
"That's a 200 percent increase. Now how can you have two houses that are exactly alike, I have been in that house, the floor plan, everything is identical," she said.
Former Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar organized the public meeting, and is also concerned many homeowners on fixed incomes could lose their homes due to large property tax increases.
"I know the county needs money, but not on the backs of people who are hard working," Oakar said.
Residents also submitted hundreds of signatures, asking county officials to extend the deadline to file an informal appeal on the reappraisals, from August 31st to September 30th.
Lisa Rocco, Director of Operations for the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office, said the deadline could soon be extended.
"It could happen, but I'm not the one to make that decision," Rocco said. "But it's certainly something that we are thinking about."
