DEBRA J. NYE

The Homestead Exemption is a real estate tax exemption that allows low-income senior citizens and disabled Ohioans to reduce their property tax bills by shielding some of the market value of their homes from taxation. The exemption, which takes the form of a credit on property tax bills, allows qualifying homeowners to exempt up to $25,000 of the market value of their homes from all property taxes. The program offers an enhanced exemption of $50,000 for disabled veterans. For more information on how to qualify and apply for the Homestead Exemption, please click here.

A provision enacted in this year's state budget bill (Sub. HB33) would annually tie the Homestead Exemption benefit to the rate of inflation. This means that the value being credited for Homestead would increase from $25,000 for Traditional Homestead and $50,000 for Veteran Homestead each year based on GDP inflation. Because of this, those receiving Homestead would see an increase in savings yearly instead of a flat savings, as is current law.

The budget provision will be effective Oct. 3, 2023, and will first be implemented in 2024 for 2023 property taxes. This is the first improvement to the Homestead Exemption since 2007 and a step in the right direction for future reforms.

If you have any questions regarding the Homestead Exemption, please contact the Auditor's Office at (740) 455-7109, option 1.  Homestead Exemption Applications are available at this link and are accepted in the Auditor's Office via mail or drop off at the Muskingum County Auditor's Office, 401 Main Street, Zanesville, OH 43701, or via email to jdwilson@muskingumcounty.org. 

As a reminder, all dogs older than three months are required to be registered in Ohio per Ohio Revised Code 955.01. 

If you no longer own a dog or if your beloved dog has passed, please contact the Auditor’s Office at (740) 455-7109 option 1 or jabell@muskingumcounty.org to update our records.

At this time, all dog licenses purchased for 2023 are considered late registrations and, as such, will have a penalty fee applied.  The cost for a one-year license with the penalty applied is $20.00.

There are currently three methods to renew/purchase your Muskingum County Dog License:

1. Purchase your 2023 Dog License online at www.doglicenses.us/oh/muskingum.  Online purchases require a purchasing fee of $2.00 per license plus shipping and handling.
2. Purchase your 2023 Dog License by completing an application and returning it with check or money order AND a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Muskingum County Auditor’s Office at 401 Main Street, Zanesville, OH 43701.  Your tags and receipt will be mailed to you.
3. Purchase your 2023 dog license in person at the following locations (cash or check only):

Auditor’s Office                       401 Main Street            Zanesville

K9 Adoption Center                 1854 East Pike             Zanesville

Animal Shelter Society            1430 Newark Rd          Zanesville

Muskingum County also offers three-year and permanent licenses for sale.  These licenses are only available to purchase at the Muskingum County Auditor’s Office and the Muskingum County K-9 Adoption Center.  The fee for a three-year license, with penalty, is $40.00 and the fee for a permanent license, with penalty, is $110.00.

Debra J. Nye, Muskingum County Auditor, has announced the Budget Commission will be meeting on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 10:00 am through the end of 2023 calendar year excluding the months of October and December.  The October 2023 meetings will be held October 16^th and October 30^th and the December 2023 meetings will be held December 11^th and December 20^th.  The purpose of these meetings is to approve any request from political subdivisions increasing and/or decreasing an Amended Certificate of Estimated Resources according to ORC 5705.36(A)(3) and 5705.36 (A)(4). All meetings will be held in the Auditor’s Real Estate Office Conference room located at 401 Main Street, Zanesville, Ohio.  For a complete listing of meeting dates, please click here.