LORAIN — Roughly 150 homeowners from Lorain’s west side gathered at a neighborhood clubhouse to voice concerns about the county auditor’s refusal to approve 100 percent tax abatements that were promised them by Lorain officials.

Many of the homeowners said they’re hoping a county judge will decide at a hearing today to offer them more time to appeal county Auditor Mark Stewart’s Aug. 17 decision.

Lorain Councilman Dan Given, D-at large, said homeowners had 30 days to appeal the auditor’s decision, and that time runs out Friday.

A letter from Stewart — sent to 307 homeowners in the tax abatement zone — said the county was refusing to honor the 100-percent, 15-year tax abatement.

County officials have appealed to county Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski to decide if Lorain officials were within their rights to approve a tax abatement that could shrink revenue streams for various government entities, including Amherst and Lorain schools and public libraries.

Some of the homeowners in the tax abatement area, however, said they didn’t know they could appeal the auditor’s decision — Stewart’s letter mentioned nothing about their options, other than suggesting they confront Lorain officials about the matter.

Morningside Way homeowners Sally and Hank Kossler said the letter essentially told them to get an attorney and fight the city.

“We got a letter, but there wasn’t anything in the letter that lets you know what your options are,” Sally Kossler said. “There was not a term or time limit mentioned.”

“It was very disappointing,” Hank Kossler said. “It was a very political-type letter.”

The Kosslers said Wednesday’s meeting at the Morningside Way clubhouse was heavy on information from real estate attorneys, Given and a few other Lorain officials.

Given said many of the homeowners affected by Stewart’s decision could suffer major financial setbacks if the tax abatement is refused. For some, it could mean $300 a month more in tax payments.

Lorain officials created the tax abatement zone in 2006 as a way to bolster market interest in homes on the city’s west side.

The Kosslers said they moved to the new development last fall from Hudson to be closer to family members in Lakewood.

Other homeowners who attended the meeting said they believed city officials’ claims that the development would attract outsiders to Lorain.

Tom Connors said he left Bay Village and moved to Lorain’s west side last fall, largely because of the amenities and the community clubhouse at the housing development.

Connors said he didn’t know about the tax abatement until after he purchased the house, but he isn’t keen on surrendering it either.

“You put the carrot out there like that, and I’m drooling,” he said.

Some homeowners said they plan to attend today’s hearing in Betleski’s courtroom.

If the appeal is rejected, Given said, many homeowners will find themselves scurrying to submit appeals to the county Common Pleas Court by Friday.

Contact Shawn Foucher at 653-6255 or sfoucher@chroniclet.com.

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