CROWN POINT | The latest property tax relief proposal from the state Legislature isn't making every local government official feel relieved.
"There are no real bargains for us here," County Councilman Larry Blanchard, R-Crown Point, said Friday.
Merrillville Town Manager Tim Brown said the plan, which would deny some promised tax breaks to landlords and businesses, generates more questions than answers.
"I really can't tell you what this will do," Brown said.
Lake County's government officials have been in a panic about an impending state takeover of their circuit-breaker program. It caps taxes at 2 percent of a property's gross assessed value. It is only offered to homeowners and costs the county about $9 million in lost tax revenue to local cities, towns, schools and other governmental units.
A state law now set to go into effect next year extends that 2 percent cap to rental properties, and in 2010 to business properties. Local government's shortfalls are expected to grow anywhere from $93 million to $223 million. Local officials want the Indiana General Assembly to rescind the circuit-breaker extension or at least blunt its impact.
Senate Tax Chairman Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, responded last week with a plan to let business tax bills rise from 2 percent to 3 percent of the gross assessed value and landlords' bills somewhere between 2 percent and 3 percent -- dropping the statewide impact by nearly two-thirds.
Blanchard said the county still will see a loss in tax revenue.
"I think his two-thirds math doesn't work in Lake County," Blanchard said. "All of the people who qualify now for the 2 percent cap -- Gary, Hammond and East Chicago -- are still going to qualify."
Brown said Merrillville could face a crippling loss of income from property taxes on rental property.
"I have 22 apartment complexes in this town," he said. "Guess what is going to happen to Merrillville."
Merrillville schools Superintendent Tony Lux said schools need a consistent source of funding.
"Without knowing all the details," Lux said, "I would be in favor of that if the state can provide some other source of funding to schools that would not be subject to unexpected, unlimited losses of revenue."
Hammond activist and landlord Wes Miller said any relief is desirable but that Kenley's plan is "smoke and mirrors."
"It still leaves the door open for government to spend without cutting," Miller said. "I am going back to my original proposal, a 1.5 percent mandated tax."
Karen Wallisch, treasurer for Hammond schools, said her district is looking for something to relieve lost revenue.
"The 3 percent on business would certainly help when 2010 comes around," Wallisch said. "And having the (property tax replacement credits) come directly to school districts is a great thing, too, if that is what it would do."
The credits are state funds that now are given to property owners to offset high tax bills.
