STATEHOUSE (Feb. 20, 2008) - Just over a month ago, House Republicans announced their plan for the 2008 session: immediately cut and permanently cap property tax. As Democrat leaders back away from constitutional protection for homeowners and announce that immediate relief is not probable, House Republicans reiterate their commitment to Hoosier property tax payers. "We are extremely concerned about the end result of all the amendments, hearings and testimony," said Rep. Bill Friend (R-Macy). "Other caucuses are folding to the special interest groups, and this could cause us to not be able to produce a product that is immediate, meaningful and permanent." Friend and his fellow House Republicans gathered today in the Statehouse, near the House chamber, to respond to recent comments by Speaker B. Patrick Bauer that the state couldn't afford immediate relief and should wait until after this session to address the current property tax crisis. Friend and his colleagues urged the Democrat-controlled House Ways and Means Committee to pass Senate Joint Resolution 1 without gutting the proposed 1-percent homestead property tax cap. The House Republicans' plan is based on a series of steps that cuts property taxes, limits local and state spending, gives local taxpayers more control over how their tax dollars are spent on local public construction and removes child welfare and school-funding costs from property taxes. Here is a reminder of what House Republicans' goals for immediate property tax relief and permanent property tax system reform: Immediate 40-percent property tax cut by May 2008. Strong state and local spending caps. Permanent 1 percent of assessed valuation homestead cap. Remove schools and welfare from property taxes. Make caps and levy removals permanent in the state Constitution. Require referenda for local construction and budget increases. Approved school construction projects built on local option income tax. Fund all cuts with sales tax alone. Single assessment official in each county. Move toward permanent elimination of homestead property taxes. There is still time to do the right thing for Hoosier taxpayers, and House Republicans remain committed to that, cutting property taxes now and capping them forever. |
