Recommends Increasing Annual Tax Credits and Extending the Program’s Duration to Address Ohio’s Housing Crisis

In testimony before the Ohio House Finance Committee, the Ohio Housing Council (OHC) urged lawmakers to enhance the Ohio Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (OLIHTC) by increasing its annual allocation and extending its duration, ensuring stability and greater affordable housing production statewide.

Recommends Adjustments in Cost Containment, Scoring, and Geographic Distribution with Forward-Looking Opportunities for Rural Development and Tailored Set-Asides

OHC provides detailed feedback on the first draft of the FY2026 Ohio LIHTC Guidelines. OHC highlights key recommendations on cost exceptions, competitive scoring, financial commitment timing, and geographic funding while outlining opportunities to enhance rural development and set-aside structures in future rounds.

Recommends Increasing Annual Tax Credits and Extending Program Duration to Bolster Affordable Housing

In testimony before the Ohio House Development Committee, Gleason urged lawmakers to raise the annual allocation of Ohio Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and extend the program beyond its current sunset, ensuring certainty for developers and spurring affordable housing production.

Seeks adjustments to eligibility, cost exceptions, and historic approval timing.

OHC provides feedback on the first draft of the 4% LIHTC with BGF Program Year 2025 Guidelines, raising concerns over HDAP eligibility, cost containment flexibility, and historic approval timing.

Raises Concerns Over Waiver Authority and Public Comment Period Reductions in OAC 175-1 and 175-8

OHC provides feedback on proposed changes to Ohio Administrative Code sections 175-1 and 175-8, raising concerns about the expanded waiver authority and the shortened public comment period.

Advocates for Flexibility in Experience Standards and Realistic Financial Commitment Requirements

OHC provides feedback on the draft 4% LIHTC Qualified Allocation Plan, urging OHFA to adopt a more flexible approach to evaluating development experience and to align financial commitment requirements with industry realities.

Requirement that property owners verify tenant immigration status in order to receive OLIHTC would have unintended consequences

OHC urges lawmakers to amend HB 547 to align with federal LIHTC compliance standards, preventing unintended consequences that could disrupt Ohio’s affordable housing investments

US House had requested input on what should be included in an extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

OHC urges Congress to expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) as it considers what should be included in an extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Feedback on Scoring Stability, New Tiebreaker, and Application Cure Period

OHC provides feedback on the latest draft of OHFA’s 9% LIHTC Qualified Allocation Plan, emphasizing the importance of scoring consistency, the potential impact of a new tiebreaker, and the need for clarity in the cure period.

Concerns Include Scope of Changes, Cure Period, Conditional Financial Commitments, and Related-Party Acquisitions

OHC provides feedback on the first draft of Technical Amendments to the 9% LIHTC Qualified Allocation Plan, raising concerns about the proposed changes’ impact on eligibility, scoring criteria, and the inclusion of certain federal funding sources.

Comments on Developer Disqualification Language and Bond-Gap Financing Incentives

OHC provides comments on the second draft of the 4% LIHTC with Bond Gap Financing Program Year 2024 Guidelines, emphasizing a positive change and raising concerns about disqualifying developers based on unclosed HDAP awards.

Seeks Clarification and Support for Key Changes

OHC provides feedback on the second draft of Ohio's LIHTC State Fiscal Year 2025 Guidelines, with a focus on clarifying language and ensuring that key provisions align with the goal of increasing affordable housing production.

Advocates for Clarity, Consistency, and Predictability in Property Valuation

OHC comments on draft rule 5703-25-20, urging the Ohio Department of Taxation to refine the proposed regulations to ensure clarity and consistency in the valuation of federally subsidized rental properties.

Supports Process Improvements and Equitable Allocation Strategies

OHC submits feedback on the first draft of the Ohio LIHTC State Fiscal Year 2025 Guidelines, voicing support for key process improvements while proposing refinements to scoring criteria for underserved areas.

Seeks continued investment in affordable housing through enhanced gap funding and rural support

OHC provides feedback on the Draft PY2024 Consolidated Plan and National Housing Trust Fund Allocation, urging sustained gap funding to counter rising construction costs and address rural financing challenges.

Recommends Streamlined Experience Reviews, Improved Application Processes, and Alignment with Economic Development Goals

OHC provides recommendations to OHFA for the FY2025 Ohio Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (OLIHTC) Guidelines, emphasizing improvements in experience reviews, application processes, and program alignment with economic development goals.

Recommendations Include Improving Capitalization Rate Guidance and Including Online Calculation Tools

OHC provides detailed feedback on the draft rule for valuing federally subsidized residential rental property, urging ODT to improve consistency and transparency with an online valuation tool, refined definitions, and enhanced timing for capitalization rate settings.