Under IC 4-22-2-24, notice is hereby given that on November 18, 2010, at 9:00 a.m., at the Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N1058, Conference Room, Indianapolis, Indiana, the Department of Local Government Finance will hold a public hearing on a proposed rule to establish standards for computer systems used by Indiana counties for the administration of the property tax assessment, billing, and settlement processes and to repeal 50 IAC 23.

The Department finds the rule necessary to update software data standards set out in 50 IAC 23. With the changes to the property taxation laws since 50 IAC 23 was adopted, the Department has determined that the original data standards are insufficient to allow the Department to capture the information needed to conduct good property taxation data analysis. In addition, some data elements that have been required of the counties are no longer necessary and will be eliminated. The proposed rule adds additional clarifications designed to make it easier for counties and their software vendors to provide the data needed by the Department and the Legislative Services Agency. The proposed rule incorporates data checks designed to validate the quality of a county's property tax data. The Department estimates that no small businesses will be impacted by this rule. The proposed rule sets software standards for local governments with respect to property tax assessment. The rule itself is "business neutral" in that it should have no direct or indirect effect on small business. The Department estimates that no small businesses will incur additional administrative expenses resulting from compliance with this rule because no additional reporting or filing requirements will be added by the rule. The Department estimates that the proposed rule will have minor fiscal impact on state government. The rule will require that software certification tests be adjusted and software vendors retested. The Department now plans on conducting the testing in-house, and, therefore, no additional costs are expected. The impact to local government should not result in additional direct costs. The Department made its determination based on inquiry to an affected vendor.

Copies of the rule are available on the Department of Local Government Finance website at:

Copies of these rules are now on file at the Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N1058 and Legislative Services Agency, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N201, Indianapolis, Indiana and are open for public inspection.