Medina County warns of tax mailing changes

Medina County Treasurer John Burke is advising property owners of changes that could affect first-half property tax payments and billing.

Burke said a new U.S. Postal Service rule that took effect in December limits mail pickups to once per day and shifts postmarking to regional post offices. As a result, a postmark date may not reflect the day a payment was placed in the mail.

“We rely on the postmark to verify if tax payments are mailed by the due date, so this change by the USPS could cause taxpayers who mail their payment on the due date of Feb. 27 to be late,” Burke said. “We recommend taxpayers consider mailing payments early or going to a local post office retail counter and asking for a hand-stamped postmark that same day.”

Burke noted that other government offices also rely on postmarks, including the Medina County Board of Revision, which hears property value appeals. Board of Revision applications must be postmarked or physically received by the County Auditor’s Office by March 31.

Property taxes may also be paid online at medinacountytreasurer.com, by phone at 1-888-607-8389, in person at the Treasurer’s Office, or through 24-hour drop boxes located at the Treasurer’s Office, Brunswick City Hall, Wadsworth City Hall and the Lodi Library.

Burke also said the Ohio Legislature enacted property tax changes in December. One change affecting first-half 2026 tax bills doubles the homestead exemption reduction for qualifying homeowners. Approximately 11,500 of Medina County’s 67,700 homeowners qualify.

The amount of the reduction varies by taxing district millage rate.

“For example, I checked two different tax districts, and the tax reduction was $354 in one township and $504 in the other township,” Burke said.

The additional reduction appears as a separate line item labeled “Local Homestead Reduction.”

To qualify for the homestead exemption, homeowners must own and occupy their residence and be age 65 or older, permanently and totally disabled, or a veteran or spouse of a first responder killed in the line of duty, with an Ohio adjusted income of $41,000 or less.

For more information or to apply for the homestead exemption, contact the Medina County Auditor’s Office at 330-725-9754.