Cash-strapped school districts eye bus service cuts
Public school districts across Indiana could find themselves risking parental wrath by getting out of the transportation business as they struggle with shrinking revenues and property tax caps.
Property taxes
Articles
Marion County could get windfall from property tax sale
The sale of tax-delinquent properties brought in $13 million above the city’s expenses.
Ballard fulfilled some pledges; others fell by wayside
The Republican mayor says he curbed crime, made government transparent, and pushed for property tax reform. His Democratic challenger says Ballard didn’t make good on repealing an income tax increase, hiring hundreds of police officers, or making education a top priority.
Tax bills spur eBay listing for Anderson office buildings
Two investors stung by soaring property taxes have listed three Anderson office buildings on eBay in hopes of drumming up interest in the $4.5 million package deal.
Indiana property tax caps slice 2011 bills
Indiana property taxpayers saw their savings grow by 32 percent this year compared to a year ago thanks to statewide tax caps on their 2011 bills, according to a state report.
Indianapolis eyes TIF surplus to shore up city coffers
The city is considering ways to channel money captured for economic development in some of its 22 tax-increment-financing districts to units such as libraries and city-county government.
Bush Stadium fixup fans tax tensions
The city plans to tap a taxing district downtown to help pay for the Bush Stadium renovation, rekindling concern among some elected officials and taxing experts that the Mayor’s Office is using the massive district to fund whatever special city needs crop up.
Unusual North of South deal leaves taxpayers vulnerable
The $156 million North of South project is a complicated, risky and potentially transformative bet on downtown.
New tax law packed with gifts for businesses
Millions of homeowners, however, might feel like they got a lump of coal. Homeowners who don’t itemize their deductions will lose a tax break for paying local property taxes.
KETZENBERGER: Property tax quandary still in flux
An initial drop in local property taxes overall is likely to increase over time. The questions are when and how?
Fountain Square turning to first-of-kind tax to fund improvements
A Fountain Square group led by neighborhood business owners hopes to create an “economic improvement district” for the up-and-coming neighborhood, where additional tax revenue could be used for everything from litter cleanup and marketing to capital improvements.
Indiana voters OK property tax cap amendment
Indiana voters have overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment that will make property tax limits more permanent.
Tax-cap amendment means change for local government
Cuts in services, higher fees and consolidation of government units are possibilities, but advocates for the constitutional amendment say long-term certainty about property tax rates could benefit the economy.
Voters expected to OK property-tax cap amendment
A recent poll found that more than 60 percent of likely voters support the proposed constitutional amendment, and some of the measure’s biggest opponents have given up the fight.
Ailing library eyes new funding source
A state lawmaker is pushing for a law that would allow Indianapolis’ public library system to get a share of local income taxes. But some already are balking at the concept, saying it would divert money from other agencies that need it.
Tax caps spread relief around
Property tax caps—promoted as a way to relieve homeowners from skyrocketing property tax bills—have provided much more relief to a different group of taxpayers. Owners of rental properties and second homes got the lion’s share of assistance from the caps.
UPDATE: Group pushing for constitutional property tax cap
Gov. Mitch Daniels joined others in promoting passage of a referendum that would make property tax caps in Indiana part of the state constitution.
Key foes won’t campaign against Indiana tax caps
Two prominent groups that have fought against the statewide property tax caps championed by Gov. Mitch Daniels are going to sit out the November referendum on whether to put the limits into the state constitution.
The gavel drops: Legislature ends session with compromises
The Indiana General Assembly finally adjourned its 2010 legislative session early Saturday with deals including a one-year
delay on unemployment insurance tax increases and aid for schools reeling from state budget cuts.
State lawmakers remain divided; deal by Sunday in doubt
The impasse between the two parties over a delay in an unemployment-tax increase is expected to drag the legislative session
into the weekend. "Nobody is talking right now," says one legislator.