Sen. Schneider Announces Plans to Review
Property Tax Assessments in Marion County
STATEHOUSE (Oct. 15, 2012) – Due to the escalation of certain home-assessment values in Marion County, State Sen. Scott Schneider (R-Indianapolis) today announced plans to review property tax assessments in the area to determine the fairness of the system. Schneider called for an investigation after learning about higher than normal assessment values from residents in Senate District 30.
State Sens. Brandt Hershman (R-Buck Creek), chair of the Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy, and Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville), chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and member of the Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy, today at a Statehouse press conference joined Schneider as he asked the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) to review Marion County’s ratio study, which measures the accuracy and equity of assessments.
“Indiana already has some of the lowest property-tax rates in the country written into our constitution, providing permanent protections to taxpayers and saving Hoosiers thousands of dollars every year,” Schneider said. “Unfortunately, some residents that I represent in Senate District 30 are experiencing alarming increases in the assessed values of their homes, especially when compared to other areas of Marion County. I am working to make sure the system is fair and treats taxpayers equally.”
Schneider said Tom Dean is one such homeowner who saw the assessment of his property increase by 12 percent. Dean, who joined Schneider at the Statehouse today, is among several local homeowners who have voiced their concerns to Schneider.
In addition to asking the DLGF to again examine the ratio study submitted by Marion County, Schneider is calling for the Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy to add this issue to their agenda and consider if the current assessment process is being used to manipulate the state’s property-tax caps. Based on commission findings, Schneider will work to craft legislative proposals aimed at solving the escalation of certain home-assessment values during the 2013 legislative session and if warranted, will work to add a circuit breaker to assessments based on a fixed marker of valuation.
“The caps were put in place to provide Hoosier homeowners fair and equal protection against burdensome property taxes,” Hershman said. “If some Marion County residents are experiencing rate increases significantly higher than their neighbors, it’s reasonable to ask for a review of related statistics and cost tables.”
“Senator Schneider is doing his part to ensure homeowners in Marion County are being treated equally in regards to their property tax assessments,” Kenley said. “We’re happy to help him in this effort. Requesting a ratio study review from the Department of Local Government Finance is a good starting point.”
“I appreciate the Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy and the DLGF for examining this important issue for Marion County taxpayers,” Schneider said. “I believe their findings will help determine how to best address this issue.”
