FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GOP Senators: Eliminate Property Taxes on Homes
Committee members ‘intrigued, interested’ in new proposal;
Legislators want more details before panel vote will be taken
(STATEHOUSE) – Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette), Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-Wheatfield) and other Republican State Senators say they are “intrigued and interested” by a new plan unveiled at the Statehouse today that would completely and permanently eliminate property taxes on owner-occupied homes statewide.
“Many ideas on how to reform Indiana’s property tax system are being discussed,” Alting said. “All proposals should be considered and studied.”
“Property tax relief must be job one this legislative session. Any reform should be fair and equally distributed while helping Hoosier taxpayers and the economy,” Hershman said.
Hershman serves on the Senate Rules and Legislative Procedure Committee. Today, Sens. Brent Waltz (R-Greenwood) and Mike Young (R-Indianapolis) offered their plan as an amendment to Senate Joint Resolution 8 under consideration by the committee.
Waltz and Young asked fellow lawmakers to choose between sales or income taxes as “fairer, more modern ways” to fund schools and local government.
“We live in a 21st Century economy, but have an 18th Century tax system,” Waltz said. “That needs to change.”
Expanding sales taxes on certain services was among several funding options the two lawmakers offered to replace the $2.95 billion needed to eliminate property taxes for homeowners.
Originally, SJR 8 would have attempted doing away with all property taxes including those on income-producing rental and business properties. Critics had been skeptical of the resolution as originally written, because of massive replacement funding needed to continue operating schools, police and fire services, libraries and other local government units.
Sen. David Long (R-Ft. Wayne), who chairs the committee, said its members asked for additional time to study and discuss the resolution and amendment. Long said he expects the committee to reconvene in the coming days, but wants to “make certain the plan is workable and acceptable before asking colleagues to vote on the proposal.”
SJR 8 is being offered as an amendment to the Indiana Constitution, requiring passage by two separately elected sessions of the Indiana General Assembly and approval by voters.
Sen. Alting represents Senate District 22, which includes a portion of Tippecanoe County.
Hershman represents District 7, which includes Carroll, Clinton, Howard, Jasper, Tippecanoe and White counties.
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