We are proud of the newspaper we deliver each week, but for the next two issues, you will literally hold history in your hands.
For the first time since Ohio Gov. John Kasich changed the law in 2011 — for the first time ever — a free weekly newspaper is publishing the Lucas County delinquent land tax notices.
These notices are being published, at significant taxpayer savings, in special insert sections in Toledo Free Press.
In October 2011, Kasich signed into law Ohio House Bill 153, which broke the monopoly daily publications held on legal notices purchased with public money. The bill eliminated the limitation that links charging for newspapers with being permitted to publish legal notices. It opened the legal publication business to any newspaper of general circulation that publishes at least once a week and meets other criteria, including at least 25 percent editorial content, being published continuously for at least three years and the ability to add subscribers to its distribution list, all of which Toledo Free Press satisfies. The bill also requires a participating newspaper to offer its best classified rate for such publications.
Allowing newspapers such as Toledo Free Press to publish these notices is intended to ensure that the best rate offered by any participant in this market will be competitive. The result should be substantial savings for all who are required to publish legal notices.
A number of agencies have begun taking advantage of our lower rates to reach Lucas County taxpayers, including the Village of Ottawa Hills, the City of Sylvania and a number of county agencies.
For the next two weeks, we are proud to carry these important notices and serve the county at a significant savings to taxpayers. The complete section will also be available online at www.toledofreepress.com.
Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press and
Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.
