GREENVILLE – Ted Finnarn, local attorney and farmer, was the speaker at the recent Darke County Farmers Union Annual meeting (123rd Anniversary Year), held Dec. 11, 2025, at J T’s Bar & Grill in Greenville, Ohio.
Finnarn explained to farmers the five (5) Property Tax Reform Bills passed by the Ohio General Assembly and signed into law by Governor DeWine on Dec. 19, 2025. Finnarn, who was involved in the legislation, noted that the Bills do provide some measure of relief against “unvoted” tax increases. “However, much more needs to be done to lessen the overreliance on local real estate taxes to fund our Public Schools,” said Finnarn.
He had given testimony before the Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform and worked behind the scenes with various organizations to come up with some concrete proposals for change.
Finnarn, considered an expert on property taxation, helped to design the Current Agricultural Use Valuation (CAUV) Law back in the 1970’s and was involved in drafting the law’s initial regulations. He has served on the Ohio Tax Department’s Ag Advisory Committee for the CAUV for a record 50 years, having been appointed in 1976.
While in Law School, he wrote his doctoral dissertation on Ohio property taxation law, and it was published, entitled “Property Taxes and Farmers in Ohio: the Park Investment Story” at 7 U. Tol.L.Rev. 1125 (1976) and is available as a book. A copy is at Greenville Public Library. Finnarn is sometimes referred to as “Mr. CAUV”.
For further info, call Ted Finnarn at (937) 548-3240 or cell (937) 417- 4104.
