(Statehouse) November 2, 2007- The Department of Local Government Finance has released information about how much money Hoosiers are likely to receive in the latest episode of the ill-advised House Democrats' property tax rebate scheme. The rebates should arrive in the spring. All 49 House Republicans fought the idea during the last session, pointing out that the scheme was bad public policy and provided neither comprehensive nor permanent property tax relief. Nothing has changed. Under the scheme, Hoosier property owners paid their exorbitant tax bills and then waited for almost a year to receive a rebate in the mail. The process of calculating, producing and mailing the rebate checks cost counties millions in expenses, all of which will come out of taxpayers' pockets in future property tax. "I did not support this tax rebate scheme in the 2007 legislative session because it was a terrible idea then and I still think it's a terrible idea," said Representative Woody Burton (R-Greenwood). "We should have encouraged controlled spending instead of playing games with taxpayers' money. The whole rebate fiasco could have been avoided had the House Democrats joined us in supporting an immediate tax credit for Hoosier homeowners."
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