Empower U - Greg Lawson - Property Taxes and Data Centers

In this episode of the 55KRC Morning Show, host Brian Thomas welcomes Greg Lawson, senior research fellow at the Buckeye Institute, to discuss the complex issue of property taxes in Ohio. Lawson explains that property taxes fund a vast array of local services—including schools, public safety, senior and children's services—and generate approximately $24 billion annually, more than Ohio's combined state income and sales tax revenues. He warns that eliminating property taxes overnight would cause chaos, as there is no immediate replacement mechanism, and highlights the structural inefficiencies in Ohio’s fragmented local government system, with thousands of overlapping jurisdictions, including tiny villages with minimal services. Lawson advocates for a deliberate, strategic reform process—using legislative tools and grassroots engagement—rather than a sudden constitutional overhaul. He emphasizes the need to rethink how services are delivered efficiently, citing southern and western states as models with fewer layers of government. The conversation also touches on the Ohio Supreme Court’s long-standing ruling that the current school funding system is unconstitutional due to its reliance on property taxes, underscoring the urgency for systemic reform. The episode concludes with a call to action to attend the Empower U seminar featuring Lawson and Christopher Smithman on the future of Cincinnati.