Indianapolis Property Tax Revolt?

[democraticinsurgent]

The local branch of an organization called Americans for Fair Taxation is hosting a plea to the Governor at his mansion on 4th of July morning at 10:30am. Residents of Indianapolis who have seen their taxes rise too dramatically over the last few years are invited to join the rally to plead our case. News media will be on hand, so prepare short sound bites (15-30 seconds of a hard-hitting message) in case your are interviewed.

The governor's mansion is at 46th and Meridian.
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- This is one protest of what is likely to be many. i just found out that my ex's house in Butler Tarkington received an increase of 285%, from around 2600 to nearly 7500. This is on top of a doubling, from 1250 to 2600, during the last round of property tax increases a few years ago. Others are seeing even worse. This increase, coupled with Bart Peterson's proposed doubling of the city's income tax, is a further nail in the coffin of middle class Hoosiers.

- In the current (depressed) housing market, this induces absolute paralysis for both buyers and sellers.

- Both Bart and Mitch are now vulnerable to electoral challengers, IMHO, even though they are both running against little-knowns.

- What will happen next? Maybe we can all get our tax bills commuted by the White House...

[IndianaGreen]

1. Bart has nothing to do about property tax rates--it is a state function

that can only be remedy by the General Assembly. There are very few options that local governments have been granted by the General Assembly, such as the local option income tax, but the property tax is not one of them.

Mitch should get off his duff and call a special session of the General Assembly.

[PVnRT]

2. That would be work, though

Mitchie doesn't like working.

[salin]

3. My property taxes went up more than 60% - and I live next to

one abandoned home, have another abandoned home across the alley in the backyard, another empty home across the street, and two empty houses abutting the side of my back yard.... yet the 'reassessment' of my property went up 10,000 - to just below what a much larger house on the street has been on the market for - for two years without a sale. Yep, real market value assessment, there.

But your point is correct - the real problem was that the state house drug its feet in recreating the property tax system after the old one was ruled unconstitutional back in 1999.

[salin]

4. correction (to late to edit original post)

the increase in the "market value" of the house was 20K, not 10K - and 40K more than I paid 3 years ago (I low balled the asking price given that noone had even looked at the house for a couple of months.) Again I say, "Yep, real market value assessment, there..." Perhaps in my fantasies (that I could sell for that amount of profit, but I know better - note above how many empty houses I describe in direct proximity to my property.)

[IndianaGreen]

5. Don't forget that Indiana abolished the inventory tax

which was a major source of income. The tax burden shifted to other forms of taxation, including the property tax rates.

[salin]

6. I think it was primarily replaced through residential property taxes

they have been too timid to "raise" other taxes - unless of course it is 'vice' taxes... on cigarettes and liquor.

Even when I lived on much lower wages, I have never been a big 'tax' complainer - but this made my eyes popout. My "market rate" assessment is about 30-50% more than I could get in the current market - but the taxes increased by more than 60%. Fortunately I can absorb the hit - but I don't know that all of my neighbors would be able to easily lay their hands on the additional hundreds of dollars - due before the end of the month. :-(