SAY WHAT??!!!
You won’t believe this, but the House Ways and Means Committee voted to amend the Governor’s tax proposal so that your residential property tax bill would be capped at 1-percent of your income. That’s right, income. I am not making this up. One percent. Not one percent of your assessed value. You figure it out. Let the games begin.
February 20th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
What genius thought of this?
February 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Ummmmmmmmmmm That’s a good thing for me I think. But doesn’t sound so good for the state. Sounds like we will be putting a casino in every city.
February 20th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
So, that means my property taxes will go from 2500 a year to only 760 bucks. Wow, looks great for me, but who’s going to make up that difference?
February 20th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Crawford is just screwing it up to get it all tossed. There is no way for income to work, period.
If they accomplish nothing this session, they all need to go.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Crawford is a high school drop-out, so what do we expect. We should start voting educated people into office, not politicals hacks.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
After months of laborious hearings, committees, letters, protests, interviews, analysis, depositions, and God knows what else, at darn near the 11th hour, when it’s nearly taken a tar and feathering to get our “public servants” this far – we get this?! I believe they think they’re in some political version of ‘Enchanted’, and somehow they can raise the earned income tax credit while reducing taxation to zero. Reality is their Fantasy Island.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Yeah, Abdul, we heard that earlier today and couldn’t figure it out either. What the heck are they thinking over at the capital, it almost seems like they are daring us to vote them out of office. It’s definitely them against us. Well, I know what I’m doing this election!
REMEMBER NOVEMBER
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If they’re going to play around like that (and not repeal property taxes) why not tax, say $1 per square foot of the size of your home? That way the rich pay more for living in bigger homes and the poor pay less for smaller homes. Crawford is playing games always claiming that the poor are the ones getting hurt but they aren’t the only ones. The middle class are feeling it just as bad and he better realize that, and fast.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I’m shocked and appalled… really, I am. Elected officials would promise A then deliver B – without ever asking for the consent of the governed? What else do people expect – Representation?
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This is the 21st century, folks. Representation ain’t coming back until the torches and pitchforks come out. It’s that simple.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
So let’s say I own a $10 million home and have my inherited wealth of $100 million invested in tax-exempt government bonds, how much do I pay in taxes? Where do these people get these ideas?
February 20th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
This would be good for a lot of people. I do not see where the income will be tied to the property tax. Are they going to total the income of all parties in the house to determine the 1% cap? That could be fair for some of the communal households some less than legal immigrants load up.
I thought smoking in the capital building was banned?
February 21st, 2008 at 1:12 am
According to a state rep that I talked to tonight, as the bill reads it’s the combined income of everyone living in the home. Mom, Dad, all the kids and Grandma too. Don’t think about taking a roommate or letting your squeeze move in, it will cost you a bundle.
How would this be enforced?
Crawford is an idiot. After presenting it as an attachment, the D’s had to recess and re-think the bill. They wrote it but didn’t understand what they wrote either.
Crawford needs to go.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:46 am
Gross or adjusted gross income?
February 21st, 2008 at 5:55 am
So you always wanted to know how much your neighbor, boss and Abdul make just check out how much the taxes are on the house. Even my wife a confirmed democrat thinks Crawford’s an idiot.
February 21st, 2008 at 6:48 am
Moneyguy, this Democrat thinks your wife is correct.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:40 am
Crawford could be just playing the age old partisan political game.
1. Come up with an outlandish proposal that appeals to the masses regardless of practicality.
2. Work to get it passed.
3. If it passes, the governor will veto it in a heartbeat making him look like he is against reform and helping the Dem candidate opposing him.
4. If it doesn’t pass Crawford can go back to his district and tell everyone he tried to solve the problem but the evil Republicans stopped it.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:20 am
I believe this is called an INCOME TAX.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:35 am
I’m beginning to think that the politicians running this state do not want anyone to continue to live in Indiana, let along Marion County. I believe they’d rather just piss off everybody to the point where they move out of state.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:02 am
This is insane.
I think this may be the (D)’s buckling to the pressure of the teacher’s unions who are scared *&%^less about the caps possibly hurting patronage administration positions and other educational bloat.
Regardless the numbers for education cuts that are coming out from both sides are pretty scary, especially when schools do need at least some help in the classroom.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:09 am
I like what Crawford trying to do here, or at least what I think he is trying to do, which is make it so those who make very little don’t get taxed out of their homes (i.e. older people, working poor, etc.). However, this provisions makes absolutely no sense from a practical, functional, or policy standpoint. I just sort of confused here.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:14 am
Chairman Crawford has just made an argument for the elimination of property tax.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:52 am
No, Dave…Chairman Crawford has just made an argument for term limits.
He has devleoepd in to an enigma…a legend in his own mind. Ditto Bauer, Cochran, Dobis, Bosma, Hinkle, and ink the Senate, well, too many to mention.
I used to detest term limits. Now I demand them.
Oh yeah, Katz, try to think before you type. The teachers’ union has only stated the obvious: they ened more moeny in the classroom. That can be accomplished by axing about half the administrators, who truly define inertia.
Teachers are your kids’ best friends. If you can read this, thank a teacher.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:52 am
No, Dave…Chairman Crawford has just made an argument for term limits.
He has devleoepd in to an enigma…a legend in his own mind. Ditto Bauer, Cochran, Dobis, Bosma, Hinkle, and ink the Senate, well, too many to mention.
I used to detest term limits. Now I demand them.
Oh yeah, Katz, try to think before you type. The teachers’ union has only stated the obvious: they need more money in the classroom. That can be accomplished by axing about half the administrators, who truly define inertia.
Teachers are your kids’ best friends. If you can read this, thank a teacher.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
t’s hard to maintain a positive outlook on the future of Indiana when such antics hamstring progress. This and other proposals such as the useless gay marriage amendment and Mike Delph’s illegal immigrant bill do nothing to advance anything in this state and only dilute our priorities. Our assembly embarrasses me.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I think it’s awesome!!
1% of my income is A LOT LESS than 1% of my assessed value.
People.,.. think about it! This is what a lot of us wanted. It is NOT BASED ON PHANTOM PROPERTY VALUE! It is more like a POTENTIAL income tax increase to ELIMINATE PROPERTY VALUE-BASED TAX!
So, my goofy $230K valuation: (I paid $130K for it) = potential $2,300 tax. My $60K annual income = potential $600 tax
I am all for it!!!!!
Then cut the spending!!
February 21st, 2008 at 12:48 pm
An amusing bumper sticker is: “The more I know about men, the more I like my dog.” An apparent improvement would be: “The more I know about Bauer, Crawford, Lawson, and Reigsecker, the more I want term limits.” I hope the voters will reassert that we’re toast on typical political gamemanship.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Why so much anger about a useless “tax cap” that they intend to eliminate anyway?
Here is Indiana’s current “tax cut” plan:
•Reduce the increase in tax deductible property taxes and shift the entire tax burden to non-deductible sales taxes.
•Increase the local income tax
•Reduce no government spending
•Result: NET TAX INCREASE
This what what people should be angry about!
The bipartisan government-reform panel led by Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard and former Gov. Joe Kernan recommend the elimination of 1,155 units of government and 5,833 fewer elected officials statewide saving $400 million each year.
Message from former Governor Joe Kernan:
http://www.indianachamber.com/
BSU Study: Kernan-Shepard Recommendations Give Big Savings EACH Year
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=27617
February 21st, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I hear there is a run on pitchforks and torches at Sullivan Hardware.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Taxpayer and everyone, please start using the same username and email for every comment. Once your first comment is approved, the rest are automatically approved if you use the same name / email, and then I don’t get a bunch of emails everyday asking me to approve comments from the same people. Thanks!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Most homeowners have houses that are worth more than their annual salary. The last time I bought a house, I was basically approved for a house 3 times my salary. This means that an “average” Hoosier would have his property taxes cut significantly more than the governor’s plan.
If the teacher’s union is nervous about the governor’s plan, they should be apoplectic about this lame idea.
February 21st, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Melyssa,
That is so Transylvanian. This is America. Here, we use a fence rail, warm roofing tar and goose feathers.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Gee, great, one percent of income sure beats one percent of our house assessment but there must be a loophole in there coming from a Demorat such as : Applies to homes valued at 20,000 or less , all others pay ten percent.
February 21st, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Listening to Bill Crawford talk is like listening to a different Bill. Bill Clinton, “Well that depends on what the meaning of “IS” is.” Both Bills can go away and that would be fine.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Representative Bill Crawford is so overwhelmingly popular in his District that Republicans (and Libertarians) rarely even file an opponent to him …
February 21st, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Please, Abdul…make it stop…the Wilson obtuse reference game is like Chinese water torture.
It always goes like this: Blogger defames any of the Center gulag, Wilson rushes to defend the offensive politician, and uses the “(s)he gets re-elected so (s)he must be good” defense.
I need a frontal lobotomy, or a bottle infronta me, or something…
Cocktail hour!
February 21st, 2008 at 8:02 pm
yup: it’s called “representative democracy” – our American form of government since 1787 – get used to it!
February 21st, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Yup, and it is why Bartie-poo was TOSSED out of office resoundingly.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Wilson…..
Just because you get re-elected doesn’t mean you are a good rep. You may be good at something but not necessarily representing the citizens.
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Hey, if property tax is based on income then we CAN get rid of all the assessors…..oh! Crawford….you didn’t think about that? Angry mob’s scenario is right. It all boils down to a game where the end result is…. we pay more taxes.
REMEMBER NOVEMBER
February 21st, 2008 at 8:26 pm
There is no such thing as “representative democracy” when a political machine controls one of the parties and don’t try to deny its existence.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Well, we certainly saw what happened to poor Greg Ballard when he got elected. The “good ole boys” Machine took him over despite the earlier efforts of some of the fine folk here…
February 21st, 2008 at 10:27 pm
That good ole boy networked so well for Bart, and King Ro and Rozell and….
February 22nd, 2008 at 9:46 am
Crawford doesn’t realize he made the case for property tax elimination and all with a one percent increase in income tax. Now the tweeking would be total elimination of ALL property taxes with a one percent income tax increase. wa-la the case has been made by a Demorat who hasn’t a clue what he said. This all looking bleak for the taxpayer–Time for a major street protest at the statehouse.
February 24th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Sullivan’s should lay in a stock of tar and feathers. It could prove to be a real moneymaker. Of course, Pat’s ‘property tax’ will skyrocket. Oh, snap.
February 24th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
M is right. Just goes to show you what petty games are being played. Obviously Crawford didn’t have a clue what he was doing when he submitted that plan. If we vote dim-wits like him in office I guess we get what we deserve.
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REMEMBER NOVEMBER
February 24th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
No Republican filed to run against Bill Crawford – his only opponent in the primary is a perennial fringe candidate…
February 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Abu Henderson is running against Bill Crawford. Abu is the democrat precinct committeeman who called out Abdullah’s illegal residency which led to him resigning for city council. Abu called out the wrong doing inside his own party. We need persons of principle, like Abu, representing us.
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Abu Henderson is one of our most active activists and has worked very hard on behalf of citizens.
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Abu will have a tremendous amount of support to defeat Crawford. And Abu is a very ethical, hardworking person. He deeply cares for the people in his community as EVIDENCED by his many actions for us.
February 25th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Abu produced no proof whatsoever that Abduallah wasnt residing at his claimed address. Anybody can make accusations but without proof, it’s empty. Ask Melyssa and what folk accuse & gossip about her! It was Abdul who found the document that proved Abduallah didnt live in his District. Abu was just hollerin’, Abdul was walking the walk!
Abu (Charles) Henderson has run many times for public office and failed many times. The same crew that tried to unseat Monroe Gray will try the same tactics against Bill Crawford: with the same results!
February 26th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Actually, an excellent idea in theory, though perhaps the math needs improvement.
Property taxes punish people who take care of their houses. A redeeming feature of the old system which taxed new homes at higher rates than old homes was that people did not lose their homes if their neighborhood improved. Under the current system, poor neighborhoods adjoining “hot” neighborhoods would be well-advised to stop cutting their lawns, park cars in their yards and cultivate panhandlers. Otherwise they can lose their homes as their landlords turn them to condos or their taxes rise bove their ability to pay.
For that matter, why not a graduated income tax instead of property taxes?
February 27th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Sunday Alcohol Sales with Tax proceeds used for Local Property Tax relief. Something is better that the nothing we are getting now.