Statehouse SOS
Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson is asking the Governor to call a special session of the General Assembly to solve Marion County’s property tax problems. Talking to reporters and pundits this afternoon the Mayor said Marion County residents are facing massive property tax increases and Indiana lawmakers should help solve that problem.
The Mayor wants the state to restore cuts in property tax replacement credits, take over child welfare payments and pass his Indy Works government consolidation plan. The Mayor says doing so would save taxpayers $88 million and also benefit other counties in Indiana as well.
A statement from the Governor’s office said “The suggestion from Mayor Peterson came completely out of the blue with no prior notice. Governor Daniels has supported some elements of the mayor’s proposal, but this year’s General Assembly chose a different way to assist homeowners with property tax relief. If there proves to be significant legislative sentiment for the extreme measure of a special session, the governor will give the idea consideration.”
I can’t blame “Hizzoner” for doing this because come Monday, all hell will likely break loose in this town as tax bills come due. The Mayor also said he didn’t come to assign blame to anyone, but to ask everyone to work together to solve the tax crisis. The Mayor is too much of a gentleman to point a finger, but I will.
If anyone deserves blame for part of Marion County’s problems is State Rep Bill Crawford who blocked the Mayor’s Indy Works program from passage. Crawford was more concerned about protecting Center Township Trustee Carl Drummer’s job than saving the taxpayers’ money.
And if you think the SOS flares are going up now, wait until next week when the tax bills hit the mailboxes.
