Property tax caps in State Constitution?

The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee has passed HJR1, a measure that would permanently protect the state’s taxpayers by placing property tax caps in the State Constitution. Governor Daniels thanked the committee and said he hopes the measure will be considered by the entire Indiana House and they will also give Hoosiers the opportunity to make the choice.

One group adamantly opposed to placing property tax caps in the State Constitution is Indiana Farm Bureau.

“Property taxes are still at the top of the priority list for us,” said Indiana Farm Bureau President Don Villwock. “We’re moving into a very critical legislative session where we think the potential’s there to make a very grave mistake by placing this legislation of property tax caps into the constitution.”

Villwock of Knox County was speaking with Brownfield’s Dave Russell during the IFB annual meeting in Ft. Wayne last month.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Dec. 15, following the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee passing measures that move property tax proposals one step closer to being amended into the state’s constitution, Villwock said, “Our members cannot condone a constitutional amendment that provides unwarranted relief to one class of taxpayers over another. Nor can we stand by silently when we see efforts being undertaken that would permanently lock that unfair scheme into our state’s most fundamental document, our constitution.

“Indiana Farm Bureau has respectfully urged lawmakers to oppose the adoption of any measure that would amend the 1-2-3 property tax caps into the Indiana Constitution, and we will continue to do so throughout the upcoming session of the General Assembly.”

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by Ball State University’s Bowen Center for Public Affairs indicates 64 percent of Indiana residents favored an amendment to place property tax caps in the state constitution. Bob Kraft, Director of State Government Relations for Indiana Farm Bureau says that while they do wonder how the question was worded, they are not surprised by the results.

“It does indicate that there is work for Farm Bureau to do and for others who oppose the constitutional amendment to do and we’ll set about doing that job,” Kraft said.

AUDIO: Bob Kraft, Indiana Farm Bureau (4:20 MP3)

AUDIO: Bob Kraft, Indiana Farm Bureau (4:20 MP3)