Commissioners discuss property tax shell game
State proposals could shift tax burdens and reduce county funding, officials warn
The Dubois County Commissioners joined other local officials in expressing concern over proposed state legislation that could significantly impact property tax revenues and potentially force new local taxes.
“The amount of revenue for the county can fall significantly,” Commissioner Chad Blessinger stated during Monday’s regular council meeting. “They’re doing everything from capping [property taxes], rolling them back, minimizing the amount of increase it could be each year. I think there is six to seven bills dealing with property taxes.”
Officials estimate that if all proposed measures pass, local governments across the state could face up to $1 billion in cuts.
This reduction would likely affect essential services such as law enforcement, emergency response, and road maintenance.
“What are you going to cut from our level? We’re going to have less ambulances, less sheriff’s deputies, less people at the health department, less people working on our roads,” Blessinger explained.
He added that he didn’t want higher taxes.
“I don’t want to pay any more than anybody else, but I do want my road to be nice. I do want the law enforcement, my ambulances, to be there when I need them. I want 911, to answer when I call,” Blessinger said.
The commission expressed frustration with what they see as a shift in tax burden rather than genuine tax reduction. While state lawmakers claim to be cutting taxes, they are simultaneously proposing measures that would require counties to implement new local taxes.
“The state can say they lower your taxes and put a feather in their cap,” Commissioner Nick Hostetter said. “We gotta be the bad guys trying to figure out how to pay the bills.”
One proposal would require counties to implement current local taxes that are available like increasing income taxes or fully implementing wheel taxes. This move seems to be an attempt to standardize tax structures across counties, but local officials argue it doesn’t account for the diverse economic landscapes of Indiana’s 92 counties.
“Each county has a different mix of taxes implemented over the years, and for the state to say you must do this one, maybe we have a different mix where that doesn’t fit with what our local plan is,” Blessinger noted.
The commission also discussed potential new local taxing powers being considered by the state, including fees on food delivery services, ride-sharing, and package deliveries. These are framed as “empowering counties” and “making local decisions,” but officials view them as shifting the responsibility for raising taxes onto local governments.
The commission encouraged residents to reach out to their state representatives and express their concerns about the proposed changes. They stressed the importance of maintaining local control over tax decisions and ensuring that any statewide changes consider individual counties’ unique needs and circumstances.
As the state legislative session progresses, local officials plan to continue monitoring these proposals and advocating for solutions that maintain essential services without overburdening taxpayers.
