Nothing Special
Anyone hoping for a special session from the Indiana General Assembly is probably better off hoping Lindsay Lohan will get her act together. The Senate Republicans don’t want one. House Speaker Pat Bauer doesn’t want one. And Governor Mitch Daniels would probably rather deal with the issue administratively for now.
If you put it all in perspective, there really isn’t a reason for lawmakers to come back now. There is no plan to deal with tax problem and everyone is in the hearing and public testimony phase. Also, with the tax reassessments that are being ordered that will provide individual taxpayers with some breathing room.
I spoke with Sen. Luke Kenley, Senate point man on taxes, and he told me he doesn’t think a special session would accomplish much. He added a special session would cost $100,000 a week and raise expectations of long-term reform. The only reason lawmakers would come back is if they wanted to turn the tax rebate check into a tax credit. Kenley says it’s more likely lawmakers would come back early and work then.
He says real change would likely come in the way the state pays for schools and child welfare and the state would have to take a look at properties exempt from taxation which also add to the burden of residential taxpayers.
Kenley says if he had his way, the state would pick up the costs of school’s general operating expenses and at least half of the child welfare costs. He says combining those with giving local governments other revenue option could lead to an eventual 50 percent reduction in property taxes.
