Gov. Daniels' Property Tax Plan

INDIANA TAX PAYERS MAY BE GETTING SOME RELIEF ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES AND IT COULD BE SOONER THAN EXPECTED. MANY TRI-STATERS HAVE BEEN IN AN UPROAR OVER RECENT PROPERTY TAX BILLS. IN A LETTER SENT THIS WEEKEND TO INDIANA LEGISLATURES, GOVERNOR DANIELS SAYS THE INCREASES ARE QUOTE "SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE". JASON CLASPELL TALKED WITH VANDERBURGH COUNTY ASSESSOR JONATHAN WEAVER ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING AND HOW IT WILL AFFECT RESIDENTS. VANDERBURGH COUNTY ASSESSOR JONATHAN WEAVER HAS HAD HIS HAND FULL LATELY HELPING TAX PAYERS MAKE SINCE OF THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS. WEAVER SAYS MORE THAN 10-THOUSAND PROPERTY TAX APPEALS HAVE CROSSED HIS DESK AND SAYS HES RELIEVED THE STATE IS STEPPING UP. STATE WIDE THE AVERAGE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE AVERAGES AROUND 24 PERCENT AND VANDERBURGH COUNTY IS NO EXEMPTION. INDIANA GOVERNOR MITCH DANIELS SENT A LETTER TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS THIS WEEKEND OFFERING TWO PROPOSALS FOR RELIEF. THE FIRST PROPOSAL IS TO DISTRIBUTE THE THREE-HUNDRED-MILLION DOLLARS APPROPRIATED FOR TAX RELIEF AS A CREDIT INSTEAD OF SENDING REBATE CHECKS. THE REBATE COULD PROVIDE RELIEF TO PROPERTY OWNERS THIS FALL INSTEAD OF NEXT YEAR. THE SECOND PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW COUNTIES THE FLEXIBILITY TO DESIGN A RELIEF PLAN THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HIT HARDEST BY A TAX INCREASE THIS YEAR. WEAVER SAYS ITS A GOOD START BUT WHATS REALLY NEEDED TO HELP TAX-PAYERS IS EXEMPTIONS. HE SAYS PUT INTO PLACE ONES THAT MAKE SINCE AND GET RID OF THE ONES THAT DONT, LIKE THE WORLD WAR ONE EXEMPTION. FORMULATING MOST OF THESE IDEAS ON PROPERTY TAX REFORM WOULD REQUIRE LEGISLATIVE ACTION WITH THE BEST CASE SCENARIO REFORMS THROUGH A SPECIAL SESSION.