The state again has postponed the deadline for Porter County residents to pay the final portion of last year's tax bill.

The delay to April 13 was granted because the original Friday deadline is expected to coincide with the release of a state study into why assessed values increased locally without a corresponding drop in tax rates, State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, said.

There are several potential outcomes of that study, including a complete reassessment, a state takeover of local assessment responsibilities, or a decision that problems are isolated and should be handled individually through the appeal process, Soliday said.

April 13 also is the deadline for appealing changes in assessed values, and Soliday urges anyone who believes they have a case to file with the county assessor by that date.

The later deadline for paying bills will allow the County Council to consider the option of petitioning the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance for the right to allow local taxpayers to spread their payments out over three or six months, Soliday said.

Soliday, who presented local officials with information on the option, said the County Council would need to pass a resolution sometime over the next couple weeks in favor of the monthly payment plan. There are no fees attached to the monthly payments.

The decision on whether to grant the request would be up to DLGF Commissioner Timothy Rushenberg, Soliday said.

Between 250 and 300 people gathered at Strongbow Inn in Valparaiso a couple weeks ago to share stories about skyrocketing home, farm and business property tax bills.

A preliminary study done by the DLGF blamed a local error and increases in some local taxes on the shock some Center Township business owners experienced after opening their 2008 tax bills. The state agency opted to investigate further to determine if there are problems countywide.