House Speaker Says Daniels Should Pay For Reassessments

Press Release

Indianapolis, Ind. -- Indiana House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend) today issued the following statement on Gov. Mitch Daniels’ decision to call for new property reassessments in several counties across Indiana:

“Today’s announcement underscores two points that have become apparent in recent weeks.

“First, there continues to be compelling evidence that too many assessors in Indiana are unfairly shifting local property tax burdens onto homeowners, renters and farmers. I find it interesting that similar problems were found in all of the counties impacted by today’s statement: a failure to handle business assessments properly.

“Second, the Administration should accept responsibility for its role in creating this mess and should pay for these new reassessments. The fact is that this Administration approved flawed rates based on inaccurate reassessments.

“We must continue to work for solutions beyond the $550 million in bipartisan property tax relief that the Indiana General Assembly approved earlier this year. I join the governor in applauding those counties that have used the local income tax options provided by the Legislature to slash tax bills using dollar-for-dollar property tax relief.

“Like the governor and Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore David Long (R-Fort Wayne), I remain committed to other long-term reforms, such as shifting the cost of child welfare programs to the state. We all appear to be on the same page that a detailed plan must be completed before the Legislature takes action.

“As the scope of this problem becomes more apparent, we remain committed to the idea of property tax relief for all Hoosiers.”

Source: Office of Indiana House Speaker