INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana's 1,008 elected township assessors are on the path to extinction, Republican legislative leaders said at Monday luncheon in the state's capital.
The event, an annual affair hosted by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, provided a preview for the property tax relief talks that will heat up again today as the General Assembly convenes for its annual organization day.
Both Senate President David Long, R-Fort Wayne, and House Minority Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said shedding township assessors should be a part of any tax package that hatches next year.
"You don't have to probe very deeply to realize the assessment system is broken," Long said. "I think it's time to reform it ... move to one assessor. I personally prefer one elected assessor in each county."
The reformers argue some township assessors lack adequate skills and training, while others simply say there are too many people doing the job to ensure any uniformity in standards. The assessors, meanwhile, counter that they know their neighborhoods better than anyone and that cutting them out will only mean more errors and scant savings to taxpayers.
"If they can get someone to work for what I make, God love 'em," said Portage Township Assessor Maureen Wendrickx.
Bosma agreed with Long, saying he believes lawmakers from both parties possess the "political will" to do away with township assessors, which some consider an extra layer of bureaucracy.
"I think this is an area where we will find consensus, whether it's an elected or appointed county assessor or the state takes it over, or some combination of that," he said.
Gov. Mitch Daniels has suggested slimming down to one appointed assessor per county while a legislative plan released last week favors a single appointed assessor in each of the 92 counties.
"I don't know why they're picking on us," said Susan Larson, the elected assessor for Center Township in Porter County.
Larson and Wendrickx said they meet training requirements set by the state. And, they added, legislators have little room to complain because they're the ones constantly fiddling with the assessment rules.
