Comments on: ASSESS THIS

By: Jon G

Jon G — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:03:06 +0000

Article 10, Section 1. (a) The General Assembly shall provide, by law, for a uniform and equal rate of property assessment and taxation and shall prescribe regulations to secure a just valuation for taxation of all property, both real and personal.
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Last valid assessment………$360,800
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Rejected assessment……….$574,400
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New assessment…………….$644,000
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This is my assessment while my neighbors assessments, who have houses of obvious greater value, square footage and improvements have gone down (although by a very small amount, and I’m happy for them).
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UNIFORM AND EQUAL? This alone proves how screwed up and unconstitutional the whole property tax mess STILL is.
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If the housing market in a steady economy generally goes up 3-5% a year how do they figure mine has gone up almost 80%? That’s what they call “uniform and equal?”
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Time for the revolution to start.
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REMEMBER NOVEMBER

By: streetfighter

streetfighter — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:30:28 +0000

We all know what a farce the appeals process is-only sucessful if you can show errors in your home details-such as sq ft. etc. Even then they expect you to do their job by requiring you to pour over every house comparison in your area to show them the assessment is in real error. After you show the details they then will say -”Well, none of that makes a difference because we go by trending and market value” This is true story, I said if none of this makes a difference then why do we have the system and you?
There are no bargains here-your last legal assessment compared to the new improved assessment shows huge increases in assessed value. They are still holding the time bomb but it’s still ticking and they threw it.

By: Jay

Jay — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:53:31 +0000

I’ve looked up every house me or someone in my family has ever owned in Warren Township – they’re all the same.

Good job out there on Post road you guys. Really. Thanks for trying. My ‘05 assessment is 25% more than what I paid for the house in ‘05. You have the data. You still scr3w3d up.

By: varangianguard

varangianguard — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:31:21 +0000

My assessment didn’t change by a plug nickel. Either the assessor is really good, or instead is just way too incompetent or worse.

Now, it’ll have to be a trip down to the assessor’s office to challenge. Thanks for making this more painful than it was already – township assessors!

By: Truth

Truth — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:30:12 +0000

My property assessment went up over $43,000 in Lawrence township since the last certified value was assigned.

Unfortunately, I doubt anyone would agree to pay me the increased amount.

Combine this with increased sales tax, increased local income tax, higher gas prices, higher food prices, poor investment returns, poor job market, and the actual decrease in home values regardless of the new higher tax assessments……..

The politicians don’t have enough words to get themselves out of this.

This is going to get very ugly.

By: Black Sunday

Black Sunday — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:56:52 +0000

Reporting from Perry Twp 23% increase. This is trruly a shame! I looked up some other homes in this area nicer than mine with not nearly as much of an increase. I knew this was coming, but I am still shocked for some reason. I will be back. People will not be able to pay these increases in July.

By: Arrow

Arrow — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:08:19 +0000

Robert,

Have you not heard? Not only do politicians have any regard for the Indiana State Constitution, but neither do Hoosiers. If they did, they would have not voted to amend Article 10 Section 1 in the first place. Hoosiers were duped because they do not do their homework.

The voice is still not loud enough, good Brother!

Arrow>>>—Article 10 Section 1—>

By: Robert-NW Side

Robert-NW Side — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:57:28 +0000

It’s Tea Time !!!
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I love reading about these horrendous increases – yet see nothing except moaning and gnashing of teeth on this board.
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How much of your tax bill could you afford ‘IF’ you were NOT paying to support the ‘common schools’?
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What would government do if a few hundred (or a few thousand) private residential property owners simply refused to pay their tax bills in whole or in part because of perceived Constitutional violations?
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“What violations?” Turning to our Indiana Constitution:
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Article 8, Section 2. The Common School fund shall consist of the Congressional Township fund, and the lands belonging thereto;
The Surplus Revenue fund;
The Saline fund and the lands belonging thereto;
The Bank Tax fund, and the fund arising from the one hundred and fourteenth section of the charter of the State Bank of Indiana;
The fund to be derived from the sale of County Seminaries, and the moneys and property heretofore held for such Seminaries; from the fines assessed for breaches of the penal laws of the State; and from all forfeitures which may accrue;
All lands and other estate which shall escheat to the State, for want of heirs or kindred entitled to the inheritance;
All lands that have been, or may hereafter be, granted to the State, where no special purpose is expressed in the grant, and the proceeds of the sales thereof; including the proceeds of the sales of the Swamp Lands, granted to the State of Indiana by the act of Congress of the twenty eighth of September, eighteen hundred and fifty, after deducting the expense of selecting and draining the same;
Taxes on the property of corporations, that may be assessed by the General Assembly for common school purposes.
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Article 10, Section 1. (a) The General Assembly shall provide, by law, for a uniform and equal rate of property assessment and taxation and shall prescribe regulations to secure a just valuation for taxation of all property, both real and personal.
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Does ANYONE see ANYTHING in Article 8 that authorizes taxation of private residential property to support the common schools?
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Taxes on property IS authorized, but on WHOM? Hint: it’s the last funding method described in Article 8 Section 2.
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Now, does ANYONE believe that we are subjected to a uniform and equal rate of property assessment and taxation? Do we really have regulations that actually secure a just valuation of real and personal property?
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If you answer NO to any of these questions, then you must believe that our government is in violation of our supreme law, the Indiana Constitution.
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Can government simply make ANY law that they want to? Well, yes, they DO, but is it Constitutional?
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Article 1, Section 25. No law shall be passed, the taking effect of which shall be made to depend upon any authority, except as provided in this Constitution.
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Hmmmm….”No law shall be passed…”
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The simple commandment at Article 8 Section 2 begins with “The Common School fund SHALL CONSIST OF…”, followed by a listing of Constitutionally-authorized methods of supporting our common schools. Taxation of private residential property is NOT listed. Since 1-25 prohibits government from making any law upon any authority except as provided in our Constitution, then how are they getting away with taxing private residential property to support the common schools?
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Clearly, government is violating our Constitution via taxation of private residential property to support our common schools. But, what about Article 10 and property taxation?
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Recall that the method of property taxation was ruled unconstitutional back in the 1990’s? Yet, the government was still permitted to collect this tax until a new system was in place – even though it took FOUR years to do so.
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I say that the system is STILL FLAWED, and does NOT conform with the commandment at Article 10 Section 1.
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Returning to my question above; what would government do to several hundred (or several thousand) residential property owners who band together and refuse to pay the tax on Constitutional grounds?
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I suppose that men with guns could eventually come to forcibly evict people from their homes. However, the political fallout from this should give pause to our politicians and other government bureaucrats. Of course, the media would pick this up and run with it.
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This is key! It’s when the media picks up a story and runs with it that we finally get relief!
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Don’t want to risk your home? Here’s a suggestion. How about a few like-minded folks get together, and buy a cheap plot of ground, or some other useless property, THEN refuse to pay part or all of the property tax on various Constitutional grounds.
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Even if you eventually lose, your home is safe. But, think of the joy of winning the battle! The more folks that contribute to the purchase of the property, the less their financial exposure. This will open the door to yet another lawsuit, as these folks would have ‘standing’ to pursue an action in court.
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Like I said, it’s Tea Time in Indiana !!
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Robert Cole (aka Robert-NW Side)

By: Melyssa

Melyssa — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:56:01 +0000

Jennifer, Teresa Lubbers is obviously a liar. You should get to know Steve Keltner, the Libertarian that intends to take her seat. He’s very accessible and quite brilliant too.

By: Melyssa

Melyssa — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:54:50 +0000

My assessment went up $30,000. You can read about it on the HOOSIERS FOR FAIR TAXATION blog.