Thursday, February 2, 2012

2012 House Bills Passed to the Senate




The deadline for the Senate to receive House bills for the 2012 Legislative Session passed at noon on Wednesday, February 1, 2012.  The following are excerpts of summaries of relevant House Bills that are now being considered by the Senate:


DIGEST OF HB 1058

Adoption of budget for reorganized school. Permits two or more school corporations to publish notices, hold public hearings, and take final action for the adoption of property tax levies, property tax rates, and a budget for the reorganized school corporation after the voters approve a plan of reorganization in a general election. Provides that a conversion charter school must publish its estimated annual budget for the ensuing year.



DIGEST OF HB 1072


Tax administration. . . Specifies that the amount that may be excluded from assessed value for the purposes of calculating budgets, property tax rates, and property tax levies may not exceed 2% of net assessed value, rather than 2% of assessed value, without approval by the department of local government finance. Specifies that notices concerning final actions on budgets, property tax rates, and property tax levies shall be given electronically rather than in writing. Changes the formula for applying the circuit breaker among debt and nondebt levies. Makes political subdivisions with nonelected governing bodies (other than libraries outside of Marion County) subject to review and adoption of the political subdivision's budget by a county, city, or town fiscal body. Requires approval of the supplemental appropriations of a political subdivision with a nonelected governing body (other than a library outside Marion County) by a county, city, or town fiscal body. Replaces a separate certification by county auditors concerning the amount of circuit breaker credits granted to taxpayers with an annual report by the department of local government finance. Permits waiver of tax bills under $5. Extends period in which to file for a property tax appeal from 45 days to 60 days. . .
 


DIGEST OF HB 1090


Payment of delinquent property taxes. Applies statewide the authority that currently applies only in Lake County allowing the county auditor to remove real property from a tax sale if the county treasurer and the taxpayer agree to a mutually satisfactory arrangement for the payment of the delinquent taxes. Establishes a period during which a taxpayer who fails to make a payment under the delinquent property tax payment arrangement may not enter into another arrangement. Provides that the fiscal body of a county may adopt an ordinance authorizing the county treasurer to accept a minimum bid on real property subject to sale for delinquent taxes equal to the lesser of: (1) the delinquent taxes, penalties, and other related costs; or (2) 75% of the gross assessed value of the real property. Provides that the fiscal body of a county may adopt an ordinance to require waiver of penalties on delinquent taxes on real property in the county if: (1) part of the delinquent taxes on the real property were first due and payable before January 1, 2010; and (2) all of the delinquent taxes on the real property are paid after June 30, 2012, and before July 1, 2013. Allows the county treasurer to extend the tax sale redemption period applicable to real property if the county treasurer and the taxpayer agree to an arrangement for payment of the amount required for redemption before the expiration of the extended redemption period. Provides for cancellation of the agreement and the extension if the taxpayer fails to meet the terms of the agreement. Provides that the total amount required for redemption includes all taxes, special assessments, penalties, and fees on property that accrued after the tax sale.


DIGEST OF HB 1190


Real property reassessment. Requires the county assessor of each county to, before 2014, prepare and submit to the department of local government finance (DLGF) a reassessment plan for the county that first applies for the assessment date in 2016. Specifies that the reassessment plan is subject to approval by the DLGF. Provides that the reassessment plan must divide all parcels of real property in the county into four different groups of parcels. Requires that each group of parcels must contain at least 25% of the parcels within each class of real property in the county. Requires a county to reassess at least 25% of the parcels in the county in one year, and to reassess all parcels in the county every four years. Establishes procedures for taxpayers to petition the DLGF for reassessment of parcels in a group and a schedule for completion of reassessment of parcels in a group. Makes technical corrections. Changes population parameters to reflect the population count determined under the 2010 decennial census.


DIGEST OF HB 1195


Property tax appeals. Authorizes a taxpayer to introduce evidence of the assessment of comparable properties to accurately determine uniformity and true tax value.



DIGEST OF HB 1264


Flood control in Lake County. . . Requires the LCRBDC to levy a special assessment on parcels of land within the Little Calumet River and Burns Waterway watershed in Lake County. Specifies that the special assessment applies only to parcels that are not exempt from property taxation. Specifies the permissible uses of the assessments, including the repayment of bonds. Specifies that projects for which bonds are payable from special assessments are not controlled projects. Specifies that certain procedural laws apply to the issuance of bonds payable from special assessments. . .