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United to Grow Family Agriculture Since 1934

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Ohio Farmers Union Proposes Substantial Improvements to CAUV

November 21, 2014 By Ron Sylvester 2 Comments

ofulogofbfeatCOLUMBUS – Ohio Farmers Union (OFU) has proposed substantial recommendations to the governor, the Ohio Department of Taxation and the General Assembly concerning corrections and improvements to the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) program.

Under CAUV, farmland is taxed on its agricultural use rather than its Fair Market-Recent Sales Value (FMV).

According to Ted Finnarn, attorney and long-time member of, “The CAUV formula has worked well in the past, but during the recent three years, it has gone out of whack,” said Ted Finnarn.

Finnarn is a long-time leader in OFU, a Darke County attorney and member of the Ag Advisory Committee to the Ohio Department of Taxation.

“The problem was mainly due to the extremely low interest–capitalization rate in the formula, as a result of the Federal Reserve’s unprecedented monetary intervention policy known as ‘quantitative easing’ and the lack of a three-year averaging factor in the computations. “

Farmers around the state have been slammed with rising property tax values as a result over the past three years. In tax year 2014, those farmers whose land is up for revaluation are seeing tax increases from 100 to 200 percent. Another factor affecting rising values is lower grain prices versus a farmer’s expenses.

After a careful review of the CAUV history over the past almost forty years, consultation with farmers, appraisers, attorneys, economists and other parties, OFU has recommended the following corrections and changes in the formula:

  1. Establish a Stabilization Equalization Factor (SEF) with three-year averaging within the formula that would even out the “roller coaster” gyrations in the CAUV as it is applied to the applicable counties during their year of valuation change.
  2. In regards to the capitalization-interest rate, go back to a longer term fixed rate, that was originally used in the formula (30 years) and take out any influence from the QE program.
  3. Return to a more traditional loan-equity percentage split of say 80% loan vs. 20% equity rather than the recent “too restrictive” breakdown of 60%/40%.  (The program originally used a 90%/10% mix).
  4. Eliminate and take out the two (2) sinking fund adjustments of “less equity build up” and less “5% appreciation” which were mistakenly put in a few years ago, since they are  somewhat related to commercial building appraisal methods, and not farm income valuations.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: CAUV, Ohio, Ohio General Assembly, Property Taxes

SB 315 – ‘Fracking Bill’ – Clears Ohio General Assembly

May 25, 2012 By Ron Sylvester 1 Comment

Bill that adds some regulations to Ohio oil & gas industry on Kasich’s desk

Here’s a quick update on the bill that supporters say creates the toughest regulatory environment for fracking in the U.S. and that detractors say does not and is riddled with loopholes.

SB 315, Gov. John Kasich’s mid-budget energy bill, cleared the final hurdle in the Ohio General Assembly yesterday when it was voted out of the House. The governor is expected to sign the bill into law.

For more background on the bill, check out the OFU notes on SB 315. Here are a few events related to the legislation from the past week:

  • SB 315 passed the House 75-20 with 18 Democratic votes.
  • Amendment approved in House that gives standing to landowners and neighbors in court to challenge a drilling company on disclosure of a chemical that it will not disclose as a ‘trade secret.’
  • Amendment approved in House loosens the gag on doctors regarding chemicals disclosed to them by drilling companies.
  • Democratic amendments that would have strengthened transparency on chemicals used in fracking and protecting landowner rights were defeated.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Fracking, Ohio General Assembly, SB 315

Frack tax proposal one of several items discussed during OFU Legislative Day

March 25, 2012 By Ron Sylvester Leave a Comment

The Ohio Farmers Union made contact with more than a dozen state legislators earlier this week during our 2012 Ohio Legislative Day in Columbus and discussed hot topics like the shale oil and gas boom in eastern Ohio, the Ohio Turnpike, restoration of funding for the Office of the Ohio Consumers Counsel, grain indemnity and Ohio’s renewable energy goals.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Casey Kozlowski, Cliff Hite, Dave Hall, Legislative Day, Ohio Farmers Union, Ohio General Assembly, Ohio Grain Indemnity Fund, Ohio Turnpike, Renewable Energy, Ron Amstutz

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