Miller Brings Tax Road Show To Warsaw
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
"I don't have to tell you that we have a property tax crisis in the state of Indiana," Miller said.
He said the only way to permanently solve the problem is for the state legislature to amend the state constitution to allow citizens to vote to repeal property taxes.
"The only solution to permanently protect homeowners, senior citizens, farmers and businesses is to permanently repeal property taxes with a constitutional amendment," Miller said.
Miller said the last time property taxes were significantly reformed was during Dr. Otis Bowen's term as governor in 1973. Miller said Bowen lowered property taxes by 20 percent, but the taxes were raised again after Bowen left office.
"Since Doc left office, property taxes have gone up 400 percent," he said.
The budget bill passed by the state legislature and Gov. Mitch Daniels this year includes a tax rebate. However, Miller said the rebate is not an adequate solution.
"The average rebate check will be about $236," he said. "It's a ploy to get politicians re-elected. Politics as usual is what got us into this situation."
Miller said in order to permanently repeal property taxes with a constitutional amendment in 2010, the General Assembly must pass the proposed amendment in 2008 and 2009 or 2010. Otherwise, Miller said, property taxes could not be repealed until 2012.
In the mean time, Miller said he has a solution to solve the immediate tax crisis. He said the legislature should change the $300 million tagged for tax rebates to a tax credit this year, use money from the state surplus this year and review the new two-year state budget and identify money that can be used for property tax relief this year.
"Gov. Daniels should call a special session of the General Assembly to enact this immediate solution and to pass a constitutional amendment to repeal property taxes," Miller said.
Miller said to pass the constitutional amendment, the proposal needs the support of 51 state representatives and 26 state senators. Miller said 43 representatives and 18 senators currently support the amendment.
"All of your state representatives from Kosciusko County support a constitutional amendment," Miller told the crowd Thursday, "but only one of your senators does."
Advance America publishes voter guides to show where individual legislators stand on the issue of property tax repeal.
Miller said if property taxes are repealed, the revenue can be replaced by a 1-percent income tax increase, a 2-percent sales tax increase and $500 billion from businesses. He said this solution will force state and local government to decrease spending and save taxpayers money.
No states currently function without property taxes.
Miller cited a poll by WISH TV indicating that 55 percent of those polled support the repeal of property taxes and 40 percent oppose it. Miller encouraged the crowd to show their support for the effort to repeal property taxes by buying signs to put in their yard, donating financially to Advance America, contacting legislators from Kosciusko County to ask them if they support the repeal of property taxes and calling Gov. Daniels to ask him to call a special session to implement the repeal.
For more information on the effort to repeal property taxes, visit www.advanceamerica.com, www.repealpropertytaxes.com or call 800-448-8683.[[In-content Ad]]
"I don't have to tell you that we have a property tax crisis in the state of Indiana," Miller said.
He said the only way to permanently solve the problem is for the state legislature to amend the state constitution to allow citizens to vote to repeal property taxes.
"The only solution to permanently protect homeowners, senior citizens, farmers and businesses is to permanently repeal property taxes with a constitutional amendment," Miller said.
Miller said the last time property taxes were significantly reformed was during Dr. Otis Bowen's term as governor in 1973. Miller said Bowen lowered property taxes by 20 percent, but the taxes were raised again after Bowen left office.
"Since Doc left office, property taxes have gone up 400 percent," he said.
The budget bill passed by the state legislature and Gov. Mitch Daniels this year includes a tax rebate. However, Miller said the rebate is not an adequate solution.
"The average rebate check will be about $236," he said. "It's a ploy to get politicians re-elected. Politics as usual is what got us into this situation."
Miller said in order to permanently repeal property taxes with a constitutional amendment in 2010, the General Assembly must pass the proposed amendment in 2008 and 2009 or 2010. Otherwise, Miller said, property taxes could not be repealed until 2012.
In the mean time, Miller said he has a solution to solve the immediate tax crisis. He said the legislature should change the $300 million tagged for tax rebates to a tax credit this year, use money from the state surplus this year and review the new two-year state budget and identify money that can be used for property tax relief this year.
"Gov. Daniels should call a special session of the General Assembly to enact this immediate solution and to pass a constitutional amendment to repeal property taxes," Miller said.
Miller said to pass the constitutional amendment, the proposal needs the support of 51 state representatives and 26 state senators. Miller said 43 representatives and 18 senators currently support the amendment.
"All of your state representatives from Kosciusko County support a constitutional amendment," Miller told the crowd Thursday, "but only one of your senators does."
Advance America publishes voter guides to show where individual legislators stand on the issue of property tax repeal.
Miller said if property taxes are repealed, the revenue can be replaced by a 1-percent income tax increase, a 2-percent sales tax increase and $500 billion from businesses. He said this solution will force state and local government to decrease spending and save taxpayers money.
No states currently function without property taxes.
Miller cited a poll by WISH TV indicating that 55 percent of those polled support the repeal of property taxes and 40 percent oppose it. Miller encouraged the crowd to show their support for the effort to repeal property taxes by buying signs to put in their yard, donating financially to Advance America, contacting legislators from Kosciusko County to ask them if they support the repeal of property taxes and calling Gov. Daniels to ask him to call a special session to implement the repeal.
For more information on the effort to repeal property taxes, visit www.advanceamerica.com, www.repealpropertytaxes.com or call 800-448-8683.[[In-content Ad]]
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