Morton Marcus: Hoosiers wearing designer fools caps

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Morton Marcus

In 2010, the Indiana General Assembly, inspired by Gov. Mitch Daniels, offered voters an amendment to the Indiana Constitution that capped property taxes as a percent of gross assessed value.

Hoosier rose to the bait. Of the 1.56 million who voted, 72% approved the measure. They believed lower property taxes were a good idea. They didn’t think through the consequences of lower local property taxes and the shift of power they granted to the general assembly.

The property tax starts with a local assessment of value. If you think the assessment is wrong, you can discuss the matter with your county or township assessor. Or you can appeal the assessment though a local board and even arouse your neighbors to protest inappropriate assessments.

If your property taxes are included with your mortgage, you might be totally ignorant of your property taxes; the mortgage company pays those taxes in May and November.

People who get a large part of their income from use of their property don’t like property taxes. Farmers, property developers, landlords and businesses with expensive equipment traditionally seek every possible way to lower their property taxes. They join the railroads and utilities in seeking state protection from local property taxes.

Homeowners, renters and businesses are dependent on local governments for schools, libraries, parks and public safety services (sanitation, health, police and fire). Some voters, however, don’t see themselves as significant users of local public services. As a result, they can be convinced property taxes are too high and supporting a property tax cap amendment to the state constitution will benefit everyone.

Several reports have come out recently proclaiming the health of Indiana’s finances, our massive state surplus, and the refund of the excess to be paid out to taxpayers. How much of this bonanza resulted from the state failing to use federal COVID aid as intended?

The state has replaced some of the shortfall in local revenues caused by the property tax caps. For schools alone, according to the Legislative Services Agency, that shortfall amounted to $307 million in 2020. This was only part of the $1 billion losses for all local governments from the tax caps that year.

We are told there’s too little money for the protection of children, for public safety, for the security of the elderly and infirm, for rehabilitation of the addicted, even for local potholes. The everyday maintenance of public buildings, street and traffic signs and lights, along with other services are taken for granted.

The neglect of our cities, towns and counties is accepted by Hoosiers who can’t believe we’re more comparable to the poorer Southern states than to our Great Lake neighbors.

But how could there be any knowledge of these matters without quality state and local news coverage?

Morton Marcus is an economist. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow his views and those of John Guy on Who gets what? wherever podcasts are available or at mortonjohn.libsyn.com.