FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lawson Supports Governor’s Plan for Permanent Property Tax Relief
(STATEHOUSE) Sen. Connie Lawson (R-Danville) voiced her support for Gov. Mitch Daniels’ property tax relief plan, which will permanently cap property tax bills and reduce the average Hoosier homeowner’s bill by more than one-third.
“I would like to applaud the governor for his leadership and development of a plan that will provide substantial and permanent property tax relief to Hoosiers,” said Lawson. “This plan is a great starting point and I will continue to work with state leaders during this upcoming session to craft state policies that will provide lasting property tax relief to the Hoosiers in Senate District 24 and across the state.”
Here’s how the plan would work:
- Permanent and significant property tax relief – The Governor’s proposal would deliver $1 billion in property tax relief by 2009, in part, by a constitutional amendment that caps homeowner property taxes at 1 percent of assessed value; capping residential rental property taxes at 2 percent of assessed value and capping business property taxes at 3 percent of assessed value; and by raising the state sales tax by 1 percent so that the state can pay for full costs of school operations and transportation and child welfare. This action will remove these current levies from the property tax bills.
- Controlling spending – All significant local construction projects must be approved by public referendums. Also, total local spending cannot grow faster than a county’s average personal income growth over a six-year period, unless approved by taxpayers in a referendum. Tax boards in each county must review and approve spending plans of all taxing units, such as school corporations, library boards and town halls.
- Reform & improve Indiana’s assessment system – Gov. Daniels proposes to professionalize the assessment system by appointing one professional assessor for each county.
Gov. Daniels’ plan would give the average homeowner an overall property tax cut of more than one-third. If approved, the plan would result in Indiana having the ninth-lowest homeowner property tax burden in the country.
Lawson represents District 24, which includes portions of Hendricks and Putnam counties.
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