Property Tax Opposition

INDIANA FARM BUREAU IS CALLING FOR LAWMAKERS TO RID INDIANA OF A PROPERTY TAX. FARM BUREAU OFFICIALS HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE IN INDIANAPOLIS TODAY URGING LEGISLATORS TO FIX A SYSTEM, THEY SAY IS BROKEN. THEYVE ALSO BEEN COLLECTING SIGNATURES AT THE STATE FAIR TO SEND TO STATE LEADERS. THE QUESTION IS, WILL LAWMAKERS ON LOCAL AND STATE LEVELS EVER AGREE ON THIS ISSUE. MARK SEIB IS A POSEY COUNTY FARMER, WHO IS A MEMBER OF INDIANAS FARM BUREAU. LIKE MANY OTHERS, HE WANTS LAWMAKERS TO GET RID OF THE STATES PROPERTY TAX STATE REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS AVERY AGREES WITH SEIB. THE PROBLEM HE SAYS, IS ITS A LOCAL TAX. THE MONEY GOES TO SUPPORT LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THAT SUPPORTS PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION AND OTHER LOCAL PROGRAMS SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS INCLUDE INCREASING OTHER TAXES, THE LOCAL OPTION INCOME TAX OR LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX. THE STATE DETERMINES WHAT TAXES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, BUT AVERY SAYS SOMETIMES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DONT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE REVENUE RAISING MECHANISMS. ANOTHER PROBLEM, AND POSSIBLY THE BIGGEST, IS JUST PLAIN OLD POLITICS, PARTY AGAINST PARTY. AVERY: "Republicans didnt want to require corporation to participate and Democrats didnt want to do it unless corporations did participate. " STILL, LAWMAKERS, AND HOOSIERS REMAIN HOPEFUL A SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND. INDIANA FARM BUREAUS VICE PRESIDENT RANDY KRON SAYS THE TAX IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PHASED OUT, AND DOESNT WANT LEGISLATORS TO HAVE A KNEE JERK REACTION. FARM BUREAU MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY COLLECTED MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND SIGNATURES FROM FAIR-GOERS WHO SUPPORT ELIMINATING THE STATES PROPERTY TAX.