The Time is NOW

View All Articles

in

In the next General Assembly, Indiana has the opportunity to set ourselves apart from our neighbors by putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2010 to cap property taxes for homes and businesses. If this amendment is adopted, we will be able to say with certainty to businesses and individuals considering moving to our state that property taxes can never go higher than one percent of a home's assessed value or three percent of a business's assessed value.

If I am elected as your state representative, I will vote for this amendment. I will work for the eventual elimination of property taxes, but homeowners need real relief now. Re-evaluating our assessment system will also ensure that our assessments are fair and manageable. Our families should never be faced with shocking property tax bills as they were in 2007; this is a real problem and we need real solutions—NOW.

I've heard some, including John Barnes, say we should wait and see if the government can get by on these taxes. I disagree; now is the time to ensure that families are not in danger of losing their homes because of high property taxes. I believe that government should live within its means just as our families do day in and day out. Government must adjust budgets just like families do. Bringing in more revenue with expanded jobs is a better way to fund government than taking more from families and businesses who are already stretched by our tough economy. If you are also for capping property taxes and putting an end to outrageous property taxes, I ask for your support on November 4.