DANIELS TALKS TAXES
Indiana Governor Mitch says while property tax opponents have their hearts in the right place, it’s very unlikely the state will be able to eliminate all property taxes. Daniels says the plans he’s seen don’t work He says he’s working on his own plan to reduce property taxes and will have something ready by the time lawmakers come back for Organization Day. He says it would be irresponsible to promise the elimination of property taxes when that likely isn’t possible.
He cautioned that if the state takes over certain local government functions like schools and child welfare, then citizens need to know the state will exercise much more control over those functions because you can’t have it both ways.
He says he wants finality to the property tax issue and says previous attempts by former Governors have only resulted in band-aid solutions to the tax problems which have resulted in higher property taxes and sales taxes. Daniels says his reform will have a Constitutional element to it so reforms can’t be undone.
On a side note I also Daniels about Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson’s campaign ad where he claimed that he banded together with angry taxpayers to force the state to order a new reassessment in Marion County. Daniels politely said he didn’t recall the Mayor ever contacting him and said sometimes campaign commercials can “color outside the lines.” He says he spoke the Mayor about the ad, and Peterson admitted that upon reflection the ad probably “overstated the case.”
