Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Village officials in Oak Harbor announced that its previously proposed property tax reduction will not appear on the November ballot due to a filing error. Instead, they intend to put it on the May 2026 ballot.
"It's unfortunate that voters won't get to weigh in this November, but the silver lining is that we will be able to engage in more community dialogue and further refine our proposal," Oak Harbor Mayor Quinton Babcock said. "We've already received some very positive feedback, and with a little more time, we believe we can make the plan even stronger."
The ballot initiative would eliminate property tax levies for police and streets and replace them with a dedicated one-half percent income tax increase. Village officials have conducted a resident survey and held several town hall meetings to shape the proposal.
Feedback consistently emphasized three priorities: lower property taxes, protect seniors, and preserve existing village services.
"Oak Harbor is a working-class community, and we know resources have to come from somewhere," Babcock said. "Residents gave us clear marching orders, and we're working to accomplish those objectives without just raising income taxes. It has to be part of the equation to lower property taxes, but it's not the whole equation."
Babcock said village officials will share more details in the coming months, including additional initiatives to address residents' priorities and strengthen the long-term stability of Oak Harbor's finances and services.
