Bartholomew
Budget
The budget order is a critical document in calculating tax bills. The order contains the state's certification of the approved budget, the estimated assessed value, the tax rate and the levy for each fund of each taxing unit in a county. The order also gives the total tax rate and property tax replacement credit (PTRC) rate, homestead credit rate and the local homestead credit rate for each taxing district.
In July 2007, the Department began analyzing each county's budget order to provide additional insight into how tax dollars are being collected and spent. These orders will be made available as they are completed.
Reports
County Adjusted Gross Income Tax (CAGIT) Distribution Report for 2008. This report shows the distribution of local income tax. CAGIT is distributed to each taxing unit, except schools.
County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) Distribution Report for 2008. This report shows the distribution of local income tax. CEDIT is distributed only to cities, towns, and the county unit.
County Option Income Tax (COIT) Distribution Report for 2008. This report shows the distribution of local income tax. COIT is distributed to each taxing unit, except schools.
Financial Institutions Tax (FIT) Guaranteed Distribution Report for 2008. This report shows the distribution of FIT to each taxing unit in the county.
Public Safety Local Option Income Tax (LOIT) Distribution Report for 2008. This report shows the distribution of local income tax raised for public safety purposes. This revenue is distributed only to cities, towns, and the county unit.
Assessment
Ratio Study
As part of the Annual Adjustment process, counties are responsible for submitting a ratio study and uniformity for all classes of property in all townships. The ratio study measures the accuracy and equity of assessments. It is determined by the formula: Assessed Value/Sale Price = Ratio. The assessment ratio for all properties in Indiana is to be 100%.
The accuracy of assessments refers to how close the assessments determined by local assessing officials are to market value-in-use.
Asssessment Progress
On-time property tax billing is a culmination of a year's worth of work of locally elected officials. The process can be separated into two stages: Assessment-to-Budget and Budget-to-Tax billing. Because these two stages are closely tied, delays in any of the steps in these two stages can have an affect on the timing of property tax bills.
Because each report is very technical in nature, please view the Glossary for definitions of terms used.
County Property Tax Summaries
At the direction of Governor Daniels, the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) developed summaries to provide taxpayers information about property taxes in their counties. These summaries are the first compilation of this information by county in Indiana. Each county summary provides a property tax breakdown for 2006 and 2007 and shows the shift of property tax burden between property classes. Additionally, the summaries break down where each property tax dollar goes, show a 2006-2007 comparison of local spending by unit and list recent debt issued by unit. Finally, the summaries reveal how much local spending has changed over a 10-year period and compare it to the rate of inflation.
Summaries represent the best information available to the Department as of October 2007. Because some counties have not provided complete data to the Department, information in the summaries may vary.
Contracts
NOTE: Since each county provides different information, not all types of contracts will be posted.
CAMA (Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal): CAMA Software is used by County and Township Assessors to determine the value of properties on a large scale.
PTBM (Property Tax/Billing Management): Once the assessments are set by the County Assessor, the data is transferred to the County Auditor's Tax/Billing System. This system allows the County Auditor to apply deductions, exemptions and abatements. Ultimately, this system generates the property tax bills to taxpayers.
GIS (Geographic Information Systems): GIS is a specialized set of software that is designed to work with data referenced by coordinates, as well as a set of operations for analyzing the data. The software is helpful throughout the assessing process.
There are no GIS contracts at this time
MISC (Miscellaneous): These are various contracts, not listed above, that provide additional services to the assessing, taxing and billing process.
EXP (Expenditures): These are documents that show specific expenditures by the county for various property tax-related functions.
SUPP (Supplemental Materials): These are miscellaneous documents included by counties in their submissions that relate a variety of information.
- How much property tax do I owe?
- Why haven’t I received my tax bill?
- Where can I find out how much homes have sold for in my area?
- What are property tax deductions and how do I know if I qualify for one?
- How are property taxes determined and calculated?
- Where can I locate a form?
- How do I file for the Homestead Credit or another deduction?
- What can I do if I missed the deadline to file for my tax deduction?
