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WEST CHESTER TWP. — The state, his opponent this November and even a local trustee are taking some credit for Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds' promise that he will lower property values in 2009.

Amid mounting criticism of this year's property tax reappraisal, Reynolds announced Thursday, Oct. 2, that he will lower property values in 2009.

The reappraisal, approved by the state in August, included property value increases averaging 5.95 percent countywide, though many homeowners have seen their values decline in recent years.

Reynolds told West Chester Trustees at their Sept. 23 meeting he lowered the values as much as the state allowed during this year's appraisal, and that he asked for an extension that would allow him to take into account 2008 values instead of higher values from 2007 and 2006. He said he was rebuffed.

Trustees Catherine Stoker and Lee Wong chastised Reynolds at that meeting — even as he was handing them a check for nearly $15,000 — issuing examples of residents struggling to deal with slumping home values.

Stoker, a Democrat, said the incumbent Republican's move was likely politically motivated.

"It's been my observation that some people will do and say anything to get elected," she said in response to the announcement last week. "Words are one thing, actions are something else."

Added Stoker: "He's reacting to people that are telling him that this (the recent reappraisal) is wrong."

Reynolds said the state controls what auditors do in adjusting values every three years, but can't stop him from doing another appraisal next year to lower values.

"In 2009, I have the authority to lower values, and I will," he said.

Shelly Wilson, director of the Ohio Department of Taxation's tax equalization division, said she proposed the idea to Reynolds days before he made his announcement.

"It's the auditor's right and the auditor's duty to value the market at market value," she said.

Democrat Jack Zettler, who is challenging Reynolds for the auditor's post, also took credit for spurring the move.

"Finally our interim county auditor has reacted to the numerous statements and articles by our campaign, as well as the hundreds — if not thousands — of statements by the county homeowners about his unfair property values," he said.

Reporter Josh Sweigart contributed to this story.