Since no one is talking about cutting spending in this age of income and property tax increases, I have a thought. How about a seven percent cut in across the board spending for all Marion County governments? By my quick guestimate, these local governments are spending about $1.4 billion of your money this year. A […]

Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson is offering his plan for tax relief, borrow $75 million. It makes sense for the Mayor to offer this. We borrowed more than $450 million to pay for police pensions. And we borrowed $100 million to pay for pensions back in 2004. Borrowing is no way to solve your money problems. […]

Mayor Bart Peterson’s office is responding to whether they will take advantage of local option income tax to offset property tax increases. Deputy Mayor Steve Campbell says “Never say never and there are some options, but our stance is why use another tax increase to fix what the State can fix WITHOUT a tax increase?”

There’s more news this morning about taxes and special sessions. State Budget Director Chris Rule says about 10 percent of the property in Marion County might be subject to reassessment, as opposed to all property owners. Also, one big hang up to a special session might be a lack of trust between House Speake Pat […]

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels may order a reassessment of property in Marion County. State law gives the Governor the authority to do so. Budget Director Ryan Kitchell says the Administration just received, after weeks of waiting, information concerning land parcel level data concerning Marion County properties. Kitchell says depending on what it shows, the Governor […]

I’m a betting man and I am not betting on a special session of the Indiana General Assembly anytime soon. House Speaker Pat Bauer doesn’t want one, unless there’s a plan already worked out. Bauer also wonders where was the concern and taxpayer outrage when Lake and Allen County voters were going through tax pains? […]

I never thought I’d ever thought I’d write this, but I actually have compliments for two Marion County Township Trustees. Both Lawrence Township Trustee Mike Hobbes and Perry Township Trustee Gary Koons have seen the property tax increase handwriting on the wall and want to explore fire consolidation. Both are running up against old-entrenched obstacles […]

I’m working on some “behind the scenes” information about what happened to make your taxes go through the roof. I’m still sorting out the details but there appears to be a lot questions concerning local officials. For example, did the County Assessor do his job by using all the tools at his disposal to deal […]

Some Indiana residents are filing a class action lawsuit this morning to stop the increases in property taxes. The group called Stop Taxing Our Property is suing Marion County Government saying its system of tax assessments violate the state’s constitution because it did not properly assess commercial and industrial property and led to the large […]

What’s the difference between Baghdad and Indianapolis? If you lose your home in Baghdad, it’s because an ineffective government couldn’t stop a car bomber. Indianapolis they just mail you a property tax bill. This may sound harsh but I am now officially fed with the government in Marion County, while citizens are losing their homes […]