New Albany and Gahanna homeowners who think their tentative 2026 property values are wrong can request a free review session with the Franklin County Auditor's Office before the Sept. 5 deadline.
The review period is part of the county's triennial property value update, which analyzed arm's-length sales from 2023 through 2025 to determine whether market values have shifted since the 2023 full reappraisal. Franklin County has nearly 500,000 parcels, but fewer than half of 1% of property owners had requested a review as of early August, according to the auditor's office.
"This is the best opportunity for property owners to review their information and raise concerns before values are finalized," Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano said in the announcement. "We want people to look up their property, check the details and contact us if something does not appear right."
Stinziano noted that a review isn't necessary just because a value went up. The question, he said, is whether the appraised value and the property details on file are accurate.
What the review involves
Sessions run about 20 minutes and are available virtually or in person at locations across the county. Property owners can also submit supporting documents online without scheduling a meeting.
No decision is made during the session. The appraisal team reviews the information and notifies owners of the outcome afterward.
Helpful documentation includes recent comparable sales, a professional appraisal, photos showing the property's condition, information about incorrect property characteristics and records of significant repairs.
Local numbers
In the Gahanna-Jefferson City School District area, residential property values are estimated to have risen about 9% in the 2026 update, with all property types up roughly 8%, according to a presentation to Gahanna City Council on June 1. Those tentative figures align with the countywide average increase of approximately 8%. For context, the 2023 full reappraisal produced far steeper jumps: residential values rose about 41% countywide.
No New Albany-specific percentage was presented publicly, though the auditor's office briefed New Albany City Council on June 2. At that meeting, Mayor Sloan Spalding praised the auditor's transparency and suggested the city add a link to the auditor's Know Your Value website in the New Albany e-newsletter.
What happens next
After Sept. 5, the auditor's office will submit values to the Ohio Department of Taxation for review. Final values are expected in December. Property owners who still disagree at that point may file a formal complaint with the Franklin County Board of Revision. The informal review does not affect that right.
Ohio law calculates property taxes using 35% of the auditor's appraised value multiplied by the local taxing district's voted levy rate. A change in appraised value does not produce an equal change in a tax bill because local rates, voter-approved levies and exemptions also factor in.
To look up a tentative value or request a review, residents can visit the auditor's Know Your Home Value website at audr-kyhv.franklincountyohio.gov.
