I got a news release Monday from the Indiana State Democratic Party criticizing Republican Mayor-elect Greg Ballard for signing on to the Governor’s property tax reduction plan. They say Ballard promised to pursue eliminating property taxes but changed his mind after getting elected into office. Now while this skews the facts a bit because Ballard […]

Although Marion County voters just got done with one election, another could be right around the corner should 7th District Congresswoman Julia Carson not complete her term in office due to health reasons. Unlike state or local races where if an incumbent doesn’t finish his or her term, their political party gets to fill the […]

Marion County Treasurer Mike Rodman is making news this morning on a couple fronts.  Rodman says he will ask the Governor’s Office to allow taxpayers to pay their upcoming third property tax bill in installments. Under state law, the Department of Local Government and Finance can allow residential property taxpayers to make payments in installments.  […]

As the tug of war over the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department continues between Mayor-elect Greg Ballard and Sheriff Frank Anderson, there is another fight that is getting ready to flare up as well. There are rumblings in the African-American community that if the soon to be Republican-controlled City-County Council takes IMPD from Anderson and gives […]

The talk is ramping up about whether outgoing City-County Council Democrats will try to tinker with the 65-percent increase in the County Option Income Tax.  In some recent  media interviews, Council Vice-President Joanne Sanders has said Republicans oppose the tax so the Council should look at either ending it or including a sunset provision. Some […]

Have you ever had a moment in your life that was so surreal that you couldn’t believe it was happening? I did today. I learned the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was going to come to my downtown Indianapolis apartment with a search warrant and try to confiscate my computer. I was surprised too. They reportedly […]

Marion County property taxpayers could get some relief from their third installment property tax bills scheduled to come out this Spring. Governor Mitch Daniels says he’s open to allowing taxpayers to make their third payment in installments. In the wake of this summer’s property tax crisis, the Governor ordered a reassessment of property and froze […]

As we debate property taxes in Indiana, here are a few facts about local government. There are 2,370 property-taxing units of government many of which overlap. There is one unit of local government for every 2,600 Hoosiers. Indiana has 92 counties. Indiana has 1008 townships. Indiana has 564 cites and towns. Indiana has 293 school […]

State Representative Jon Elrod officially announced his run for Congress today. Elrod narrowly defeated Democrat Ed Mahern in the 2006 election. Elrod says he wants to be an alternative for voters in the 7th District. I honestly don’t think incumbent Julia Carson is going to run again based on her health, so while Republicans make […]

My Marion County Democrat friends just can’t seem to grasp the concept that they lost the Election and are debating whether to tinker with the public safety tax.  Repealing the tax would be illegal because the law says it can only be voted on once in a calender year.  The new talk is amending the […]