Analysis of the Governor’s Property Tax Plan

In stories today in the Indianapolis Star and the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette the issue of how and who the Governor’s tax plan will affect are reported.  Both quote analysis by the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services.  Statewide, residential property taxes will drop 38.6% in 2009.  However, Local Governments will receive less, depending on the county.   While homeowners will see the largest decrease in property taxes, nonresidential property owners will see a reduction of approximately 27% and business property tax will decrease by 15%.  According to the Governors plan, the shortfall from the property taxes will be partially made up by the state taking over some county responsibilities, such as child welfare and raising the state sales tax by 1%.  From the Indy Star Story,

“Ryan Kitchell, head of the state Office of Management and Budget, also released a summary of data from a Legislative Services Agency analysis that showed how each county in Indiana will be affected by the circuit breaker.”

From the Journal Gazette story,“David Bottorff, executive director of the Association of Indiana Counties, called the findings of the analysis “devastating” for local officials“I’m not sure it’s a question of whether or not the cut’s reasonable,” said Matthew Greller, executive director of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns. “I don’t think it’s the place of the state legislature or the administration to make spending decisions at the local level. That’s why we have mayors and council members who are elected to make those kinds of decisions.” 

First, the Blogmeister would like to remind the mental health community why we care.  No matter where one practices, your practice is someplace.  It is that place that is currently taxed more.  In a business, and yes it is a business, where control of how much is charged is not controlled by the practitioners or administrators, that increase will have to come from someplace and cannot be passed on to the consumer.  More than likely it will come in further decreased practitioner pay.  Second, the Blogmeister has a hard time feeling sorry for local governments who have continued to increase their payrolls, disproportionately from what is going on in their communities.  A 5% decrease in spending seems reasonable compared to the 28% more property owner paid this year in increased taxes.  Finally, the Blogmeister disagree’s with Mr. Greller’s comments.  The Blogmeister learned long ago, if your going to take the state’s money, you play by their rules. 

National Story: Rethinking Juvenile Justice

From the Associated Press, via the South Bend Tribune comes this story about the tendency to give juvenile offenders adult consequences.  Basically, it states this tendency was a reaction to spikes in juvenile crime in the late 80’s and early 90’s.  Since the time the laws were changed to treat juveniles as adults, research is now coming in indicating that sending juveniles to adult facilities only makes them better criminals.  Several states are looking at retooling their juvenile systems to focus on treatment, instead of incarceration with adults.

As the Blogmeister has stated previously, he worked with juveniles during the early 1990’s in a program designed to change behavior and keep juveniles out of adult facilities.  He knows first hand that these programs do work.  However, there are cases where the programs fail.  With anything, we must not let the pendulum swing to far either way.  There will be cases where the public is best served by long term incarceration and others where treatment is the best option.  Read the story and decide for yourself, but in the Blogmeiser’s opinion, varied options available to the judiciary is the best public policy.

Adoption Day in Allen County

A very warm and fuzzy story from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette describing yesterday’s proceedings in Allen County Family Court.  If you want to feel good, give it a read.

Allen Civil Court Goes Online (for the right price)

In a story today from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette it appears the Civil Division of the Allen County Courts is making efforts to make their files available over the Internet.  Unfortunately, the cost for this will be between 25.00 and 450.00.

While the Blogmeister is all for making court records accessible over the Internet, the cost seems prohibitive for, well, just about anyone.  One wonders how smaller counties, such as Noble are able to offer this service for free (as it should be) and Allen County is not.

IAMFT Elections Begin

The Indiana Association of Marriage and Family Therapists will begin their election process today (12/1/07).  If you are a member, please remember to go here, look at the candidate profiles, and vote.   Elections will run through the end of the month.

 Remember, every vote is important to your professional organization!