(STATEHOUSE) March 10, 2009 - Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton) today joined Gov. Mitch Daniels, other legislators and Indiana citizens in support of permanent property tax caps at a rally at the Statehouse. Gov. Daniels urged the legislature to pass Senate Joint Resolution 1, which would make the current statutory caps permanent if approved by Indiana's citizens. "Homeowners want property tax caps," said Rep. Thompson. "Taxpayers deserve to be able to speak on this issue." The SJR 1 property tax caps set homeowner property taxes at 1 percent of the property's value, while farmland is capped at 2 percent and commercial property taxes are set at 3 percent. The Indiana Senate has passed SJR 1, but House Speaker Pat Bauer (D-South Bend) has not yet decided if the Indiana House will hear the legislation. "Statutory caps can be changed and provide little assurance to taxpayers," Rep. Thompson said. "For this reason, I will support allowing voters the opportunity to pass the constitutional amendment to make the property tax caps permanent." The rally was held by the Hoosier Property Tax Alliance, which is composed of citizens and corporations who encourage property tax reform that that preserves and grows Indiana's economy, helps homeowners and is permanent. The group is also concerned with fairness and government accountability in property tax policy. To drive home the point that property tax caps need to be considered now, House Republican Leader Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) has installed countdown clocks in his office and outside the House of Representatives chamber. The clocks count down the days, hours, minutes and seconds left until it's too late to pass SJR 1 in the 2009 session. |
