Property tax

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton toured the Youngstown Business Incubator and rallied in Liberty, stressing ties to Mahoning and Trumbull counties ahead of Election Day against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton has repeatedly addressed a Ramaswamy-backed ad featuring her estranged mother, calling her a liar and alleging mental health issues; Gov. Mike DeWine called it exploitative. Both candidates are closing with pitches on Ohio's affordability crisis, with Ramaswamy touting his business background and property-tax executive orders, and Acton emphasizing public-service experience, a working families tax cut, and school funding.

Ramaswamy has self-funded and outspent Acton nearly $80 million to $34 million overall, though Acton has outraised him recently; both have shattered Ohio's gubernatorial fundraising record, and neither has held elected office before. Democrats are banking on a late push, including a Cleveland rally with Barack Obama and expanded early voting, as prediction markets show Acton favored heading into Election Day.

Alongside candidate races, North Carolina voters are deciding three constitutional amendments. One would extend the state's existing in-person photo voter ID requirement to absentee-by-mail ballots, building on a 2018 amendment that survived years of litigation before the state Supreme Court upheld it in 2023. A second would cap the state income tax rate at 3.5%, below the current 3.99% flat rate. A third would limit how much local governments can raise property taxes annually. Polling shows strong public support for all three measures, though critics warn the tax caps could constrain future lawmakers and local governments during downturns. None of the changes take effect immediately after Election Day.

Monmouth County voters decide Tuesday whether Republicans retain full control of county government. Incumbent Commissioner Erik Anderson is paired with Tony Perry, longtime Middletown mayor, against Democrats Chelsey Tanner and Sofia J. Ugarte. Republican incumbent Ross F. Licitra is not seeking reelection. The GOP ticket emphasizes fiscal restraint and the county's AAA bond rating, while Democrats focus on workforce support and accessible county services.

Voters will also choose the county surrogate, overseeing probate, estates, and guardianships. Republican incumbent Maureen T. Raisch, seeking a second term, points to administrative modernizations, while Democratic challenger Anthony L. Cherry Jr., a defense attorney, is campaigning on expanding court accessibility.

Ocean County, New Jersey voters on Tuesday decide a contested Board of Commissioners race and a ballot referendum that would nearly double the county's open space preservation tax. Republican incumbent Frank Sadeghi, seeking a second term, faces Democrat Kia Phua, a Berkeley-based union official aiming to end a 37-year Democratic drought in countywide office. Sadeghi has emphasized infrastructure and managing rapid population growth; Phua is campaigning on property taxes, affordability and vendor-contract oversight.

Separately, voters will weigh raising the Natural Lands Trust Fund tax rate from 1.2 to 2.2 cents per $100 of valuation, unchanged since 1997, which officials estimate would add about $20 million annually for land preservation.

Three Toms River seats on the nine-member Toms River Regional Board of Education are contested this year, with the race colored by an ongoing feud between Superintendent Michael Citta and Mayor Daniel Rodrick over test scores, spending and Citta's new contract. Incumbents Ashley Lamb and James Capone are running with newcomer Gerard Nappi on a "Protect What Matters" ticket, facing a "Finance, Education and Accountability" slate of Anthony Colucci, Elizabeth Huber and Laura Picurro, plus independent candidate Kristen Hanson.

Property taxes dominate the campaign after steep increases tied to falling state aid and a $306 million budget; challengers cite spending growth and Citta's raise, while incumbents point to preserved schools and stability. Campaign donations linked to Rodrick's former chief of staff and a developer suing the township have added controversy.

A ConsumerAffairs analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data ranks the Jacksonville metro area No. 2 among the 100 largest U.S. metros for property taxes rising faster than home values from 2022 to 2024. The typical homeowner's tax bill rose 21.7% while median home values increased 8.1%, a gap second only to Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida. Nationally, home values rose faster than taxes over the same period, though a five-year view shows Jacksonville home values up 63.1% since 2019, outpacing a 44.9% rise in taxes.

Florida's Amendment 3, needing 60% approval, would raise the non-school homestead exemption to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 while cutting the non-homestead assessment-growth cap from 10% to 5%. Backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, it has split Republicans and drawn opposition from police, firefighter, and county groups warning of billions in lost local revenue; proponents argue local governments can absorb cuts after years of rapid tax collection growth.

North Carolina voters will decide Nov. 3 on a constitutional amendment requiring state lawmakers to cap increases in local property tax collections, though the measure leaves specific limits undetermined. Buncombe County commissioners voted to formally oppose it, citing vague language that could jeopardize funding for schools, emergency services and Helene recovery efforts. Commissioner Parker Sloan said approval wouldn't guarantee lower tax bills and could shift more control to the General Assembly, with large property-owning utilities and corporations potentially benefiting most. Some residents say the amendment's wording is confusing. If passed, lawmakers would still need to set actual collection limits and any exceptions.