By Dan Carden, Times of Northwest Indiana
dan.carden@nwi.com
INDIANAPOLIS | Property taxpayers are one step closer to getting their bills on time, regardless of whether local assessors have finished their work.
The Indiana House voted 97-0 on Tuesday to send the Senate legislation that mandates counties send provisional tax bills by March 16 every year, even if the total taxes owed hasn't been determined.
State Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point, the sponsor of House Bill 1059, said the measure will stop local governments and schools from having to borrow money from banks to pay operating costs and then use tax dollars to pay the interest.
"The last thing that we want happening is that money the taxpayers are paying to receive services that they need and desire is going to pay back senseless interest," VanDenburgh said.
Under the legislation, the provisional bills will be for 50 percent of the previous year's billing, due on May 10, with the second half due Nov. 10.
State Rep. Tom Dermody, R-LaPorte, said school corporations in his county have paid more than $3 million in interest the past three years.
"During these tough times, I'd sure like to put that in the classroom," Dermody said.
Last year, only two of Indiana's 92 counties sent spring property tax bills on time. This year approximately 70 are expected to bill on time, according to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.