By Mandy McFarland Editor
NAPPANEE – Property taxes were the main topic of discussion at this year’s local legislative session last Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Nappanee Center.
This year, State Representative Jackie Walorski (R-Lakeville) and Bill Friend and state Senator Ryan Mishler (R-Bremen) met with Nappanee residents to discuss current issues at state level.
Cold weather kept many indoors, however a small crowd of about 20 gathered to listen as Walorski, Friend and Mishler focused on House Bill 1001, which caps property taxes at 1 percent of assessed property value for homeowners, 2 percent for residential rental property and 3 percent for all other property.

In addition, the bill will bring nearly $7 million in property tax relief in 2008 and an additional 300 million in 2009.
Additional means of property tax relief under House Bill 1001 include balancing K-12 school operating fund, eliminating levies on transportation funds, child welfare, state fair and state forestry.
To help fund the property tax relief plan, House Bill 1001 calls for state sales tax to increase from its current six percent to seven percent, effective April 1; state tax revenues dedicated to PTRC, annual wagering taxes from slot machines and horse racing to be redirected to the state general fund and the PTRC fund to be eliminated before July 1, 2009 with monies from that fund reverted to the general fund.
Reforms to the local tax and budget process would include eliminating county oversight of local tax and budget limits, meaning that a county’s spending and property tax would not be allowed to grow faster than its average personal income growth over the previous six-year period, that “impacted taxing units” would be able to appeal to a referendum held within the taxing unit; most levy appeals would be repealed and the school property tax control board would be repealed.
Changes to the local option income tax (LOIT) would include capping levy replacement LOIT at one percent. This would then be used for property tax relief, levy growth and replacing revenue lost by circuit braker credits.
Finally, changes to the property assessment system would include eliminating township assessors beginning Jan. 1, 2009.
About
the legislators
Jackie Walorski has served as a representative in the Indiana House of Representatives for Indiana House District 21 since 2004. Her district includes portions of Saint Joseph County south of South Bend and the southern part of Elkhart County. She is a 1985 graduate of Taylor University with a B.A. in communications and public administration. She attended Liberty Baptist College from 1981 to 1983 and is a 1981 graduate of Riley High School.
Ryan Mishler serves as senator of Indiana district  9, including Kosciusko, Marshall, Saint Joseph and Elkhart counties. He has been with the state senate since 2004. Mishler graduated from the University of Southern California with a BS in business administration. He attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science and is a graduate of Bremen High School.
Bill Friend has served as representative of Indiana House District 23 since 1992. His district includes portions of Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall and Miami counties. He graduated from the University of Indianapolis in 1971 with a BA in biology, and is a 1967 graduate of North Miami High School.