The Ashtabula County Auditor’s Office and this informational portal are committed to protecting your privacy while providing a transparent digital environment. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and interact with our digital services.
1. Information Collection
We collect information to provide better services to all our users. This collection occurs in two ways:
- Information You Provide: This includes information you voluntarily submit through our contact forms, dog license applications, or Homestead Exemption inquiries. This may include your name, mailing address, email address, phone number, and parcel identification numbers.
- Information Collected Automatically: When you browse our site, we automatically collect certain non-personal information, such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, and the pages you visit. This data is used solely for statistical analysis to improve our website’s performance and user experience.
2. Use of Information
The information we collect is used for the following purposes:
- To process applications (such as dog or vendor licenses).
- To respond to your inquiries or feedback.
- To provide updates on county property values and tax cycles.
- To maintain the security and integrity of our digital infrastructure.
3. Public Records Notice (Ohio Revised Code)
Important Note for Users: As a government-affiliated entity, the Ashtabula County Auditor is subject to the Ohio Public Records Act.
Please be aware that any information sent to this office via this website may be considered a public record. This means that, unless a specific legal exemption applies (such as for Social Security numbers or certain sensitive financial details), the information you provide—including the text of an email or a form submission—may be subject to public inspection and copying if requested by a third party.
4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses “cookies” to enhance your browsing experience. A cookie is a small text file placed on your hard drive by a web page server.
- Functionality: Cookies allow us to remember your preferences (such as a specific parcel you are tracking).
- Control: You have the ability to accept or decline cookies through your browser settings. However, declining cookies may limit your ability to use certain interactive features of our property search tools.
5. Data Security
We implement a variety of security measures to maintain the safety of your personal information. We use industry-standard encryption protocols (SSL/TLS) to protect data transmitted during online transactions. Access to personally identifiable information is restricted to authorized employees who need the data to perform a specific job (for example, a licensing clerk).
6. Third-Party Disclosure
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personally identifiable information to outside private parties for marketing purposes. We may share information with trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website or conducting county business (such as payment processors for dog licenses), so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential and secure.
7. Links to Other Sites
Our website contains links to other government agencies and partner organizations (such as the Ohio Secretary of State or the Ashtabula County Treasurer). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these external sites. We encourage you to read the privacy statements of any website that collects personally identifiable information.
8. Children’s Privacy
Our services are directed to the general public and are not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.
9. Changes to This Policy
We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the site constitutes your agreement to the revised policy.
10. Contacting Us
If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your data, please contact us:
Ashtabula County Auditor’s Office 25 West Jefferson Street
Jefferson, OH 44047
Phone: 440-576-3783
Email: auditor@ashtabulacounty.us