HOMETOWN MATTERS

Indiana municipal officials have designed a comprehensive plan to reduce property taxes, establish alternatives for financing local government, and create efficient and effective local government.

Through the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, the state's municipal officials have taken lead in devising a long-term strategy for property tax reduction.

Our hometown matters are important to the citizens of Indiana. Essential services such as public safety, a clean and safe environment, good jobs and a strong economy, and sound infrastructure are all provided by municipal government.

Hometown Matters is a plan to enable municipal officials to provide the best and most efficient municipal government possible to the citizens.

Hometown Matters:

* Reduces reliances on property taxes

* Establishes alternatives for financing local government

* Helps us foster more efficient and effective local government

Source: Office of the County Treasurer

Freedom of Speech feels action needs to be taken to enable local government to provide the services us constituents expect without property taxes escalating out of control.

With a flexible range of funding alternatives and decision making power given to our local community, the constituents will be the ultimate, arbiters of what is economically health for our city.

Notice: Rates for 2006 pay in 2007 taxes haven't been established. You may only pay an advance tax in the Treasurer's Office. The advance payment amount will then be credited toward your taxes for 2007

Darlene S. McCoy