FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sens. Pat Miller, Teresa Lubbers applaud
Gov. Daniels’ actions on property tax crisis
(STATEHOUSE) – Sen. Teresa Lubbers joined Sen. Pat Miller (Rs-Indianapolis) in applauding actions taken by Gov. Mitch Daniels today concerning the property tax crisis in Marion County.
“The governor has taken a giant step in addressing the current property tax crisis,” Sen. Miller said. “This will lift a heavy burden from the hearts of so many in Marion County.”
“His actions recognize two important truths: the need for immediate relief and the undeniable reality that our property tax system is broken,” Lubbers said. “We have to have structural and long-term reform or all that we’re doing now will look futile in the years to come.”
Both senators were particularly grateful that the governor ordered a reassessment of all real property in Marion County while “freezing” tax bills for Marion County residents at 2006 amounts. They emphasized their support for a special session of the Indiana General Assembly, if needed, to make the governor’s plan a reality.
“If there is a special session, the tax rebate plan needs to be converted into a tax credit,” Miller said.
“A tax credit makes more sense for both the property owners and the county officials who oversee property taxes,”
The reassessment order comes after Department of Local Government Finance Commissioner Cheryl Musgraves told the governor nearly three-fourths of commercial and industrial parcels in Marion County did not change at all over a six-year period.
“This statistic clearly illustrates that something’s terribly wrong with the Marion County assessment,” Miller said. “I’m glad the governor is providing leadership and the state is now taking charge of the reassessment.”
Meanwhile, Miller and Lubbers were hopeful the governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on local government reform would come up with a viable long-term solution which builds support for a local government restructuring plan.
“Only nine states in the country have more local units of government and more locally elected officials than Indiana,” Lubbers said. “We have to find ways to do things more efficiently – not just in Indianapolis but across the entire state. With more than 10,000 locally-elected officials – including 1,100 with responsibility for property tax reassessment, it’s no wonder we lack uniformity in tax issues.”
“I believe we need a partial or complete elimination of property taxes,” Miller said. “I look forward to seeing this commission’s findings.”
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