Latest news with #SenateEnrolledAct1
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana's property tax reform delivers relief while preserving local growth
Indiana's 2024 elections sent a message to leaders that Hoosiers across the state were concerned about getting squeezed out of their homes by skyrocketing property taxes. The angst I heard talking to members of our community came, of course, with an acknowledgement that rising taxes were a result of increased home values, but a lack of transparency around home assessments and some frustration with a seemingly endless chain of school referenda made it clear that many Hoosiers were demanding relief. Heading into the 2025 legislative session, it surprised no one that this issue was front and center for lawmakers. After months of negotiations and input from residents, the Indiana General Assembly delivered one of the most significant changes to local taxation we have seen in nearly two decades. No one got exactly what they wanted — it would take you three minutes on social media to know that — but the result is a bill that provides immediate relief to nearly every Hoosier and, when fully implemented, allows homeowners to deduct two-thirds of their assessed value to lower their property tax bill while reining in $54 billion in local government debt. We transformed some tax deductions into tax credits, a change that will result in lower actual tax bills for thousands of taxpayers; moved school referendums to even-year general election ballots to ensure better participation; and lowered the amount of local income taxes governments can collect by $1.9 billion. In short, while changes to tax policy can be complicated, Senate Enrolled Act 1 not only gives Hoosier homeowners tax relief today, but also moves Indiana to a fairer, simpler and more balanced local tax system in the near future. One of my goals as a state legislator is to ensure the voices of growing communities are represented in these debates. It was important that we find a balance between needed relief and the resources upon which communities like mine have come to rely, resources that represent critical investments in quality of life, amenities, infrastructure and key services. Hicks: Braun cut taxes for businesses, but most Hoosiers will pay more Carmel and Westfield, the cities I represent at the Statehouse, have enjoyed forward-thinking, fiscally responsible leadership for years. The results are demonstrative. Carmel, for example, was ranked No. 2 on the list of the Best Places to Live in 2025 by Livability & U.S. News, and both communities are consistently ranked among the best in the country. Indiana, moreover, is now ranked 7th nationally for net in-migration, with the high-earning, talented individuals Indiana needs flocking to cities in Hamilton County. That's not an accident. The strategies that Carmel and Westfield have implemented should be celebrated and enhanced by the policies coming from the Statehouse. That balance was not easy to strike and local governments and schools will, no doubt, be faced with difficult decisions in the future. But SEA 1 represents much-needed reform to a convoluted property tax system that disincentivizes these hard decisions today at taxpayers' expense. Even with these changes, schools in my district will receive more money from property taxes over the next three years, and the new state budget increases tuition support for students. I am proud of the work we did this session on this issue, and I am equally grateful for the perspectives, insights, and counsel shared by our incredible local leaders who helped legislators avoid harmful unintended consequences. As with any bill this complex, property tax reform will remain a topic of discussion in the General Assembly, and we will be making tweaks to the law moving forward. But SEA 1 is a strong step forward to helping homeowners while improving accountability in local government spending. State Rep. Danny Lopez, R-Carmel, represents House District 39, which includes a portion of Hamilton County. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana property tax reform delivers relief for homeowners | Opinion
Indianapolis Star
5 days ago
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana's property tax reform delivers relief while preserving local growth
Indiana's 2024 elections sent a message to leaders that Hoosiers across the state were concerned about getting squeezed out of their homes by skyrocketing property taxes. The angst I heard talking to members of our community came, of course, with an acknowledgement that rising taxes were a result of increased home values, but a lack of transparency around home assessments and some frustration with a seemingly endless chain of school referenda made it clear that many Hoosiers were demanding relief. Heading into the 2025 legislative session, it surprised no one that this issue was front and center for lawmakers. After months of negotiations and input from residents, the Indiana General Assembly delivered one of the most significant changes to local taxation we have seen in nearly two decades. No one got exactly what they wanted — it would take you three minutes on social media to know that — but the result is a bill that provides immediate relief to nearly every Hoosier and, when fully implemented, allows homeowners to deduct two-thirds of their assessed value to lower their property tax bill while reining in $54 billion in local government debt. We transformed some tax deductions into tax credits, a change that will result in lower actual tax bills for thousands of taxpayers; moved school referendums to even-year general election ballots to ensure better participation; and lowered the amount of local income taxes governments can collect by $1.9 billion. In short, while changes to tax policy can be complicated, Senate Enrolled Act 1 not only gives Hoosier homeowners tax relief today, but also moves Indiana to a fairer, simpler and more balanced local tax system in the near future. One of my goals as a state legislator is to ensure the voices of growing communities are represented in these debates. It was important that we find a balance between needed relief and the resources upon which communities like mine have come to rely, resources that represent critical investments in quality of life, amenities, infrastructure and key services. Carmel and Westfield, the cities I represent at the Statehouse, have enjoyed forward-thinking, fiscally responsible leadership for years. The results are demonstrative. Carmel, for example, was ranked No. 2 on the list of the Best Places to Live in 2025 by Livability & U.S. News, and both communities are consistently ranked among the best in the country. Indiana, moreover, is now ranked 7th nationally for net in-migration, with the high-earning, talented individuals Indiana needs flocking to cities in Hamilton County. That's not an accident. The strategies that Carmel and Westfield have implemented should be celebrated and enhanced by the policies coming from the Statehouse. That balance was not easy to strike and local governments and schools will, no doubt, be faced with difficult decisions in the future. But SEA 1 represents much-needed reform to a convoluted property tax system that disincentivizes these hard decisions today at taxpayers' expense. Even with these changes, schools in my district will receive more money from property taxes over the next three years, and the new state budget increases tuition support for students. I am proud of the work we did this session on this issue, and I am equally grateful for the perspectives, insights, and counsel shared by our incredible local leaders who helped legislators avoid harmful unintended consequences. As with any bill this complex, property tax reform will remain a topic of discussion in the General Assembly, and we will be making tweaks to the law moving forward. But SEA 1 is a strong step forward to helping homeowners while improving accountability in local government spending.
Chicago Tribune
7 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Duneland voters may see school referendum renewal earlier because of state law change
The Duneland School Corporation might ask the voters this November to renew an operating referendum because of a change recently enacted by the state legislature. Superintendent Chip Pettit during Monday's school board meeting emphasized that he hasn't decided what he will recommend. The board will make the final decision. Duneland officials are still analyzing the potential financial impact of Senate Enrolled Act 1 on the school budget. The wide-ranging bill includes provisions that cap how much local governments and school districts can realize from an increase in property values in coming years. Voters in 2019 approved the 7-year referendum, which provided $8.8 million annually to supplement the school corporation's educational programs. The levy is currently calculated at 22 cents per $1,000 of property valuation. The funds generated make up 10% of the 2025 budget, which was $89 million. Originally, Pettit said it was likely that he was going to ask Duneland voters to renew the operating referendum in the May 2026 primary. But one of the changes with Senate Enrolled Act 1 is that school districts can no longer put an operating referendum up for a vote in a primary. Referendums now must appear on the November general election ballot. 'As a result, once specifics to how Senate Enrolled Act 1 will impact the Duneland community and school corporation (are known), I may ask the Board to consider placing the referendum on the ballot in November 2025,' Pettit said. If the renewal doesn't appear in November 2025, it would have to be on the November 2026 ballot. The Duneland School Corporation would like to know if the operating referendum is renewed because it would 'provide cost certainty for budget development in 2027 and beyond,' Pettit said. 'With our current referendum funds lasting through 2026, I believe it would be difficult to ask the Board to approve a budget in the fall of 2026, for 2027, without knowing whether referendum funding is available,' Pettit said. About half of the school corporation's budget comes from property taxes collected within the Duneland School Corporation while the state provides the remaining amount. 'We are currently working with our financial advisors to sort out the projected impact of SEA (Senate Enrolled Act) 1,' Pettit said. Pettit said one certainty is that inflation in the past few years has been significant, causing operating costs for the school corporation to increase. 'If tax revenue decreases, the budget cannot support the same or an increased level of expenses, which means that reductions and cost-cutting measures must be taken,' Pettit said. School Board President Brandon Kroft, during his presentation on the recent Indiana legislative session, noted that Senate Enrolled Act 287 eventually settled on keeping the vote for school board members to the general election. The change is that candidates for the school board can declare a political party affiliation or choose to say they are independent or make no party declaration at all. School board elections before had been non-partisan.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Indiana farmers celebrate 2025 legislative wins, but key transition tax credit falls short
Indiana farmers had several legislative wins during the 2025 session, but budget constraints stymied some proposals. () Property tax tweaks and a new online portal were among this year's legislative wins for Hoosier farmers. But a high-priority proposal to help retiring farmers transition land to a new generation of growers failed to cross the finish line in the final days of the session. Rural-focused portions of Gov. Mike Braun's first agenda pledged to 'cut red tape,' strengthen the agricultural economy and protect Indiana farmland from encroaching development. The Republican governor had two early successes: property tax relief and a new online farmer portal. Baked into Senate Enrolled Act 1, a hotly-debated property tax measure, were changes to how farmland is assessed for property taxes — increasing the capitalization rate in the farmland formula from 8% to 9%, and adding a new assessed value deduction. Braun maintained those changes will bring at least some relief for farmers. Agricultural lobbying groups agreed, in part, but said more works need to be done on property taxes, specifically. 'While this will provide relief to Hoosier farmers on their real property taxes the next couple of years, taxes on other agricultural infrastructure like farm buildings and permanent structures are expected to increase due to shifts within the tax base,' said Andy Tauer, Indiana Farm Bureau's executive director of public policy. 'Our members have seen property tax bills go up 60% over the past three years, while net farm incomes have gone down. So, we need to return to the Statehouse in the coming years to craft a more comprehensive and sustainable solution for farmers.' Another win came in House Enrolled Act 1149, the first bill signed into law by Braun. The measure, authored by Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer, creates an online 'one-stop-shop' portal for farmers to access funding opportunities, regulatory information and state agency contacts. 'Hoosier farmers feed America and power our economy, and this bill makes their important job a little bit easier,' the governor told reporters at a Statehouse bill signing ceremony. Braun's plan additionally called for the creation of a farmland preservation task force, as well as upgrades in rural communities, including roads, broadband and water systems. Members of Indiana Farm Bureau's water task force in 2024 identified a 'gap' in protections for agriculture and significant groundwater well users who utilize irrigation or need water for livestock, Tauer said. Under earlier state law, those users were responsible for proving any loss of water and were liable in court. Farm bureau leadership said the lobbying group worked with Republican Sen. Sue Glick, of LaGrange, to craft Senate Enrolled Act 28, which establishes a reporting and investigation process managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to fix those issues and ensure that agriculture is protected in cases when usable water is unavailable. Braun signed the legislation in mid-April. 'Although we were successful in getting our water policy signed, we did not get the property tax relief that Hoosier farmers really need,' said Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron. 'While we are appreciative of the change in the farmland formula, it's incredibly important that we advocate for more tax relief for our members in the future and we vow to do just that. Other agricultural sector bills that passed and were supported by Indiana Farm Bureau and other lobbying groups included: Senate Enrolled Act 461: Clarifies the responsibilities of the Indiana Grain Buyers and Warehouse Licensing Agency, ensuring better compliance and support for struggling licensees. House Enrolled Act 1012: Requires law enforcement to inform landowners of any damage to their property resulting from motor vehicle accidents. House Enrolled Act 1461: Provides additional funding and tax options for local government infrastructure projects, benefiting rural communities. Axed from the final draft of the state's next two-year budget, however, was a tax credit to support land transitions. The proposed 'retiring farmers tax credit,' originally introduced by Culp, would have offered up to $67,000 in tax credits to landowners who sell or lease farmland or agricultural equipment to beginning farmers, helping ease barriers to land access and encouraging transitions to a younger generation of farmers. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signs first bill into law, creating new online portal for farmers Claire Shipp, Midwest policy manager for the American Farmland Trust, said the policy was based on successful models in Minnesota, Iowa and other states. With more than 34% of Hoosier farmers now over the age of 65, Indiana is facing 'a major shift in farmland ownership,' Shipp said. Many retiring farmers want to sell or lease to a beginning farmer but can't afford to turn down higher offers from developers or institutional buyers, she added. The tax credit would have provided an incentive 'to preserve Indiana's agricultural legacy, support rural economies, and ensure farmland stays in productive use for future generations.' Although the tax credit was included in Braun's proposed budget in February, it was removed by GOP budget writers in the House. A Senate version of the state budget later added a 'beginning farmer tax credit,' modeled after a similar program in Ohio, but was ultimately dropped in final budget negotiations. Caitlin Smith, Indiana Farm Bureau's director of policy engagement, said that while her group supported the tax credit, budget pressures ultimately derailed the proposal. She pointed to the state's April fiscal forecast, which revealed $2 billion less in revenue that expected, prompting lawmakers to trim provisions late in the session. Keeping farmland in the hands of farmers is not just a private benefit — it is a public good. – Claire Shipp, Midwest policy manager for the American Farmland Trust 'Indiana Farm Bureau's two main policy priorities this year were to provide tax relief and water protections,' Smith said. 'While we supported the governor's agenda initiative, as well as Rep. Culp's bill as filed, ultimately those didn't make it across the finish line due to budget constraints. After the April forecast was released, legislative leadership made tough decisions to close the budget gap and that was one of the items that fell off.' Smith noted that the goal of the credit was to help encourage and foster young farmers buying land to start their businesses. 'We know land prices are skyrocketing while the farm economy is on a downward turn, so this credit would be a tool in the toolbox to foster the next generation taking over farms,' she said. 'We're supportive of those initiatives, but we were really focused on asking and advocating for tax relief this year.' Shipp said the American Farmland Trust plans to advocate for similar legislation again and is working with Culp and other lawmakers to revisit the proposal in 2026. 'Keeping farmland in the hands of farmers is not just a private benefit — it is a public good,' she continued. 'When young farmers have access to land, they contribute to local economies, bolster rural communities, and continue the agricultural heritage that sustains Indiana.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Chicago Tribune
15-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
SSCVA hears how Indiana legislative action will affect tourism, region
At its monthly meeting Thursday, the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority board heard how items passed during Indiana's legislative session will affect the region's tourism. 'More questions came out of this session than answers,' said Andrew Miller, managing principal for Bose Public Affairs, which prepared the presentation Thursday. Miller and Phil Siscuso, principal for Bose Public Affairs, highlighted four items that were part of Gov. Mike Braun's agenda during the legislative session: tax reform, government efficiencies, economic growth and health care. Government efficiencies take a business-like approach to government, Miller said, and he believes the Braun administration made that a priority. During the Indiana General Assembly, Miller said officials focused on how to prepare for a 'data center economy' and energy costs. 'Data centers are huge consumers of energy,' Miller said. 'Is Indiana prepared for that?' Energy conversations also tie in with economic growth, Miller said. Miller and Siscuso also highlighted the Northwest Indiana Professional Sports Development Commission, which was created this legislative session as part of House Enrolled Act 1292, written by Rep. Earl Harris, D-East Chicago. The commission will be tasked with exploring and implementing strategies to attract sports franchises to the region. According to Post-Tribune archives, the commission would have 17 members, including mayors from East Chicago, Gary, Hammond, Michigan City, LaPorte, Portage and South Bend, while the remaining members would be appointed by various people, including the executive director of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, and Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph county leaders. Both Miller and Siscuso said the commission will be beneficial for Northwest Indiana. Miller also mentioned Senate Enrolled Act 1, which creates property tax reform in Indiana. The effects of Senate Enrolled Act 1 are still yet to be fully known statewide. The group highlighted economic growth and government efficiency because this legislative session fell during a budget year, Siscuso said. The Indiana General Assembly creates a two-year budget every other year. 'One thing that came at the end of session that's more evident was that we're running a bit lower on tax revenues than the state had anticipated, and government efficiency took over the statehouse for the last two weeks,' Siscuso said. This year, the Indiana Destination Development Corporation's budget was cut to $3 million from $20 million, he added. The IDDC is Indiana's state tourism organization. Phil Taillon, president and CEO of the SSCVA, said it's more important than ever that the organization is more efficient with money from its innkeepers tax. Nicole Wolverton, chief financial officer, said Thursday that the reported innkeepers tax for April — which reflects February's numbers — was more than $50,000 less than it was in 2024. The SSCVA also received about $23,000 less in gross payments, bringing the organization more than $70,000 down from what was collected in 2024. In January and February, Wolverton shared that numbers decreased for the final two months of 2024 as well. Although innkeepers tax numbers decreased, Wolverton said the organization is still on track for appropriations. When Braun was in Munster for a chamber of commerce luncheon, Taillon said they talked about tourism in Northwest Indiana. 'I told him that we're really focused on how we get dollars from Chicago to Northwest Indiana,' Taillon said. 'Tourism dollars are so important for driving and growing communities or regions, and (Braun) feels the same way.' At the SSCVA's March meeting, the board reduced funding for Festival of the Lakes in Hammond and Pierogi Fest in Whiting, according to Post-Tribune archives. The board approved a $15,000 sponsorship of Festival of the Lakes when they usually pay $20,000. The reduced funding came as result of a lawsuit with former President and CEO Speros Batistatos. The organization has spent almost a quarter of a million dollars in the ongoing legal battle, which only covers one law firm involved, Barnes and Thornberg, according to Post-Tribune archives. Batistatos sued the SSCVA one month after it fired him, alleging the organization violated the law while handling his contract renegotiations due to his age and misspent federal Payroll Protection Plan funds in violation of the CARES Act, which the board disputes.
