FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Charbonneau supports plan for HB 1001
Senators, Representatives endorse cuts, caps
(STATEHOUSE) – Sen. Ed Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso) joined fellow Senate and House Republicans today in declaration of his support for House Bill 1001.
In order to provide immediate and permanent property tax relief and reform, Charbonneau said this agreement on the plan by both the Senate and House Republicans was necessary.
“The two Republican General Assembly caucuses support the plan and hopefully we are very close to a measure that will be agreed upon by both Republicans and Democrats,” Charbonneau said.
According to Charbonneau, HB 1001 gives taxpayers statewide an immediate 30 percent cut in their homestead property taxes, phases in circuit-breakers over the next two years, and endorses the permanent constitutional caps included in Senate Joint Resolution 1.
Charbonneau said the House-Senate plan for HB 1001 is based on the following principles:
- Help for Hoosier homeowners. The plan features $700 million in new, immediate relief, $1 billion removed from property tax levies, referenda that empower voters to control or allow spending and a constitutional guarantee of property tax caps.
- Help for all Hoosier property-tax payers. Cut now and cap forever. The plan, in addition to immediate relief, forwards the process of permanent caps through a constitutional guarantee of property tax caps.
- Help for local governments. The plan, at the county level, removes four child-welfare levies and the cost of juvenile incarceration from property taxes. At the municipal level, it removes the remaining pre-1977 police and fire pensions from property tax, and it includes support for police and fire services.
- Help for Hoosier schools. The plan removes school operations, school pension bond costs and special education preschool costs from property taxes. It also includes $100 million in circuit-breaker relief and $400 million in tuition reserve fund money.
- Help for low-income Hoosiers. The plan includes an overall decrease in taxes for low-income taxpayers, renters’ deductions, deductions for low-income senior-citizen homeowners and earned income credits.
HB 1001 and Senate Joint Resolution 1, which would lead to permanent property tax caps being placed in the Indiana Constitution, are in conference committee, where differences between the House and Senate versions are being worked out. If both houses of the General Assembly agree to a final version of HB 1001, it would go to Gov. Daniels for his signature. If both Houses agree to a final version of SJR 1, it would be presented to the next General Assembly. If the same version passes that Legislature, it would be placed on the statewide ballot for all Hoosier voters. If they approve it, it would become part of the state Constitution.
“Everyone is working hard to develop an effective plan that provides the permanent property tax reform Hoosier deserve,” Charbonneau said. “We are dedicated to working together to create a reasonable solution to Indiana’s property tax crisis.”
Sen. Charbonneau represents Senate District 5, which includes Starke County and portions of Porter, LaPorte, Marshall, Jasper, Pulaski, and St. Joseph counties.
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