School funding, property taxes shape 83rd District race

FINDLAY — In the 83rd House District race, Republican incumbent Ty Mathews and Democratic challenger Sheila Coressel agree that rising property taxes are making it harder for Ohioans to afford their homes. They differ, however, on education policy, an issue closely tied to the tax bills that help fund the state's public schools. Mathews supports Ohio's school choice programs, including private school vouchers, arguing families should have options when deciding where to educate their children. Coressel opposes expanding vouchers and instead supports fully implementing Ohio's Fair School Funding Plan, designed to increase state support for public schools. Their disagreement reflects a broader challenge facing Ohio policymakers. Public schools rely heavily on local property taxes, even as rising tax bills have fueled calls for homeowner relief. The tension has become a recurring theme in debates over school funding, school choice and the state's responsibility for financing education. Mathews, of Findlay, is seeking reelection after winning the seat in 2024. He is serving his first term in the Ohio House and serves as vice chair of the House Veterans and Military Development Committee. He also sits on the Development, Technology and Innovation, and Natural Resources committees. He previously worked as a special assistant and policy aide in the Ohio Treasurer's Office and currently works at Northwestern Masonry in Findlay. He is a U.S. Army National Guard officer who served in Iraq and currently commands Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-145th Armor Regiment. Coressel was elected to Ada Village Council in 2019 and has served on several council committees, including finance, safety, streets, buildings and grounds. She also serves as chairwoman of the Hardin County Democratic Party. She is an administrator and has spent more than 25 years working in higher education. The district includes Hancock and Hardin counties and a portion of Logan County. Education One of the clearest differences between the candidates is over education policy and Ohio's expansion of private school voucher programs. Mathews said parents should have the final say in their children's education and defended school choice programs while maintaining support for public schools. "I support school choice because every child deserves an opportunity to succeed, regardless of their family's income or ZIP code," Mathews said. However, supporting school choice does not mean abandoning public schools, he said. "I support continuing Ohio's school funding reforms, addressing the unique challenges facing rural districts, and reducing costly state mandates. I also believe that any school receiving taxpayer funding should be held to reasonable standards of accountability," he said. Coressel said the state should instead fully fund Ohio's Fair School Funding Plan and reduce funding directed toward vouchers. She argued public dollars should be prioritized for public schools and said accountability requirements should apply to all schools receiving state funding. "The state should be fully funding the Fair School Funding Plan, which ensures all of our public schools are receiving the funding they need to educate our students," Coressel said. Ohio's Fair School Funding Plan uses the actual cost of educating students and a district's local wealth to determine how state school funding is distributed. The formula was adopted in 2021 to create a more equitable funding system. Property taxes Mathews said rising property taxes are forcing some residents, particularly seniors and those on fixed incomes, to struggle with housing costs. "Ohioans should not be taxed out of their homes simply because the government says their property has increased in value," he said. Mathews said he would support additional limits on property tax increases, protections for homeowners facing sharp tax hikes, expanded relief for seniors and efforts to lower housing and energy costs. Coressel also criticized the current property tax system, saying many homeowners are facing higher tax bills because of increased property values rather than changes in income. "The increase in the market value over the years is significantly higher than the cost-of-living increase," she said. She said lawmakers should revisit how property taxes are calculated and address broader affordability concerns, including housing costs and everyday consumer expenses. Asked what Columbus is getting wrong, the candidates pointed to different priorities. Mathews said state leaders too often focus on large economic development projects while overlooking small businesses, family-owned companies and manufacturers. He cited legislation he has sponsored to support Ohio's defense and aerospace industries and said lawmakers should reduce regulations and increase transparency surrounding economic development incentives. "Government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers," Mathews said. "It should create an environment where hardworking Ohioans can succeed. We need less bureaucracy, greater accountability, and a stronger commitment to the communities that have built our state." Coressel pointed instead to voting laws enacted in recent years, arguing state lawmakers have made voting more difficult despite what she described as minimal voter fraud. She said she would support policies such as automatic voter registration, additional ballot drop boxes, expanded absentee voting access and a state holiday for Election Day.