Last week I was really confused as to what was going on in Indianapolis on the property tax situation. I know, I could have gone over to the usually outdated in.gov site and read through the bills and found out for myself, but I was busy with other things. Besides, I was getting a little frustrated with all the media reports of one side attaching this or that amendment to further their self appointed needs. So, I sat back and let everything shake out. Luckily, things aren’t as bad as what the media, and some bloggers, would have us believe.
The South Bend Tribune has a good overview of where we are with the property tax reform situation. Apparently both houses still have bills that, more or less, are in line with what the governor proposed at the beginning of the session. Remember, last Wednesday was the last day for bills to be heard in their house of origin, so each house has now “traded” with the other. Sure, there are some differences in the bills, but those will most likely be worked out in conference committee. It is my view the final bills will look very close to what the governor proposed. I say this because, despite all the posturing and amendments, legislators have to be in the position to say they passed property tax reform by the end of this session, and neither side wants it to look any different than what the governor proposed.
Why, you ask? Well they want to pass it so they can go home and say they did something. So when your property tax bill arrives the month or so before the 2008 election, you’ll notice a difference. If you don’t, legislators are going to have to look for new “part-time” jobs. They also want the governor’s fingerprints all over this. That way they have someone to blame if it goes wrong, or some get hurt. And some will. Certainly some communities will have to do some belt tightening, and all of us will pay more in sales tax, of which I’m sure we’ll hear some parts of the populace complain. But overall the governor’s plan appears to be a good starting point. What needs to happen is a continued dialogue and study of the issue, so we never ever end up in this situation again. Unfortunately, I fear once this is passed, and the fervor dies down, reform will stop and the legislature will go back to band-aiding the mess until the next time they are forced to act.
One more thing, the property tax reform legislation is on the table because of overwhelming public support. It affects everyone and just about everything. If you support one of the issues some legislators are attempting to attach to the reform measures, but have nothing to do with property tax, that’s great, but this is not the legislation to attach your measure. In fact it is probably doing your measure more harm by having it perceived as the thing that could kill tax reform, than the perceived possible benefit of your measure. Please inform your leaders and members of the legislature of your feelings and have your measure addressed at a different time or in a different way.