December 11, 2025
Local –
Worthington adopts plan to incentivize more mixed-use housing
This week Worthington City Council passed a resolution that establishes a workforce housing tax abatement program, which will give developers tax breaks on mixed-use projects that include units for people making 60% to 80% of the area median income.
For a one-person household, 60% to 80% of area median income is between $45,780 and $61,050 annually. For families of four, that percentage range is $65,400 to $87,200 per year.
Worthington is one of the only cities in the region to specifically incentivize mixed-use projects.
The tax abatement program is limited to areas of the city with commercial zoning, which is about 22% of the city’s area.
Updates from the Franklin County Auditor’s Office
The office is gearing up for the 2026 Triennial Update. Although the update does not involve a complete exterior inspection of each parcel like the 2023 reappraisal, it will result in an updated property value for each parcel that reflects the current real estate market within Franklin County.
The Tax Incentive Hub webpage has been updated, including a newly released Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC) report, see attached.
UPDATES TO PROPERTY TAX BILL SCHEDULE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY: Property tax bills for the first half of 2026 will be extended to February 28; the second half, upon approval from the Department of Taxation, will be July 20th.
National –
Federal Reserve cuts key rate, sees healthier economy in 2026
A graph showing the spread of coronavirus
AI-generated content may be incorrect.
The cut decreased the Fed’s rate to about 3.6%, the lowest it has been in nearly three years.
Lower rates from the Fed can bring down borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards over time, though market forces can also affect those rates.
“While there’s no guarantee that the Fed’s move will push mortgage rates lower, there’s reason to be optimistic that homebuyers could see rates below 6.00% in the next year, even if only briefly,” according to Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree.
