Governor Daniels issued this statement Monday regarding Indiana's ongoing property tax discussion:
"I keep in close touch with events and like everyone am dismayed about the size of residential property tax increase.
Let's start with the basics: property taxes pay for local spending and local borrowing. They are collected by and for local government, schools and libraries.
As governor, I will take every step I have authority to take to help Hoosier homeowners. First, I have directed the Department of Local Government to approve any county's application to permit homeowners to pay their property taxes in installments and to extend bill due dates. I have ordered the Indiana Bond Bank to faclitate short-term financing by local governments that need cash when awaiting these installments.
I am also exploring some ideas with legislative leaders about how a special session might provide immediate relief directly to property taxpayers who have been especially hard hit. I have instructed DLGF to probe the unexplained disparity between residential and commercial reassessment in many counties, taking follow-up action if warranted. The state will not approve pending budget orders until commercial and industrial real estate assessments have been further analyzed. DLGF also will notify localities that upcoming budgets that spend above the rate of inflation will be rejected until spending is under control. Pending and future bond issuances also will be held in problem counties.
Never forget the money all comes from the same taxpayers. The bottom line is there can be no solution without greater control of local spending and borrowing.
That means greater scrunity by taxpayers and by state government, and it means fundamental reform for the long term. We have far too many layers, elected offices and overhead.
Source: Governor Mitch Daniels
Freedom of Speech would like to say:
Homeowners aren't just mad. They are fed up. We want to see some major changes. The Governor created a commission to seriously study the layered bureaucracy of local government. The purpose of the Blue-Ribbon Commission on local government Reform is to develop recommendations to reform and restructure local government in Indiana in order to icrease the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations and reduce its cost to Hoosier taxpayers.
Background
Indiana currently has about 2,730 local units of government with authority to levy property taxes. This includes 92 counties, 1,008 townships, 117 cities, 450 towns, and 293 school corporations. To govern all of these units, Indiana elects an estimated 10,746 officials - including 1,100 with responsibility for property tax assessment.
Freedom of Speech questions:
1. What local government offices might be eliminated to achieve should township/county property tax assessors be abolished in favor of a uniform process managed by the state?
2. What local units of government might be successfully consolidated to reduce overhead and administrative expenses?
3. What services of functions of local government might be reduced, eliminated, or provided in new ways to achieve savings for taxpayers?
4. What constitutional, statutory, administrative, or other charges are necessary to achieve signnificant reforms in the structure and organization of Indiana government.
Will Governor Daniels call for reassessment of Floyd County?
