What happened
The Indiana General Assembly met for its annual organization day and overwhelming approved legislation, House Bill 1010, legalizing property tax related administrative actions Gov. Mitch Daniel took this summer. Northwest Indiana legislator huddled before the session to talk South Shore commuter rail expansion.
INDIANAPOLIS | State legislators trumpeted bipartisanship and cooperation Tuesday as they took what they hope is the first step on the path to an election-year fix of Indiana's much-maligned tax system.
Meeting for their annual organization day, lawmakers swiftly approved a measure legalizing administrative maneuvers Gov. Mitch Daniels made as property tax anger began to fester this summer, including:
-- extending from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31 the deadline for counties to adopt income taxes dedicated to property tax relief.
-- extending from June 10 to Oct. 15 the deadline to apply for 2008 tax breaks, including homestead deductions.
-- declaring homeowners don't need appraisals to appeal their tax assessments.
The legislation, House Bill 1010, cleared the Indiana House 94-4 and the Senate 47-1. Lawmakers expressed hope a comprehensive package to ease residential tax bills -- expected to rise an average of 24 percent this year -- would find similarly broad support when lawmakers return to the Statehouse next year.
"Working together as we did today, we will be successful," said House Speaker Pat Bauer, D-South Bend. "We will find an answer."
Lawmakers must be successful, said House Minority Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis.
"It is going to be hard work for all of us because this particular issue is as politically charged as any," Bosma said.
The work will get an early start, with Bauer scheduling three December hearings on the tax relief plan Daniels presented last month.
Senate Republican leaders debuted a baker's dozen of tax proposals, including three proposed amendments to the Indiana Constitution. One would permanently cap homeowner tax bills at 1 percent of assessed value and another would block any future attempt, however fleeting, to tax churches.
Tuesday marked the first taste of legislative action for three new region lawmakers: Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, and Reps. Greg Simms, D-Valparaiso, and Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point.
Most of the Northwest Indiana delegation met before session to discuss local issues, particularly efforts to come up with a $30 million annual tax to extend South Shore commuter rail service to Lowell and Valparaiso.
© Copyright 2024, nwitimes.com, Munster, IN