With Indiana counties having just a few days to consider passing
an ordinance to give delinquent taxpayers a break on their back taxes, the
Porter County Council refrained from action Tuesday to grant amnesty on property
taxes.
In House Enrolled Act 1090, the state gives county councils the
authority to grant a one-year moratorium on all penalties and interest on unpaid
taxes owed before Jan. 1 this year. If the taxpayer can redeem all current and
delinquent taxes by July 1, 2013, with the county treasurers office, their fees
would be dropped. The one-time amnesty is an incentive for taxpayers to stay off
the lists for tax sales and a chance for counties to recoup taxes owed.
The county commissioners looked at the new law a few months ago
when the county auditors office proposed a plan to waive back taxes on
multi-unit dwellings in violation of their homestead credit if the property
owner corrected their records with the auditors office. The plan was dropped
however when the state said no law exists for counties to grant amnesty.
...
County Treasurer Mike Bucko said 74,577 of the countys 81,958
parcels are up to date on their taxes and 1,750 properties are in bankruptcy. He
said he recently sent an e-mail to other treasurers to ask if their counties had
enacted the policy and Lake was the only one which responded saying they
have.
The council ended up not voting on a motion to adopt the policy,
instead Council member Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, moved to adjourn the meeting.
Conover showed strong interest in the plan saying this one-time
deal could have helped a few residents save their homes.
"Some people have fallen on hard times," she said.
Council member Laura Blaney, D-at large, said the county could
look into other payment plans to help keep taxpayers properties off the tax sale
list.
