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 Post subject: Why Jim Premeske is Both Wrong and Right
PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:40 am 
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http://www.post-trib.com/news/elections ... ly.article

But Premeske pressed his case for property tax elimination in Indiana on behalf of the Team Hammond taxpayer group to which he belongs.

He took note of Lake County's special place in the theology of Indiana government reform.

"If one were to define Indiana in terms of the book of Genesis, Lake County would be Gomorrah," Premeske said. "South Bend, home to (House Speaker Pat Bauer), might be considered Sodom."


Yes I agree there needs to be reforms in the taxing units, notably for Hammond the School City and the use of some casino revenues in the civil city. And yes Lake County has it's problems, not the least of which is an unwillingness to switch to an independent Human Resources department to fill vacancies rather than the good old fashion friend or a friend system. Still, government does need the revenues to run core essential services. So if you abolish the property tax you either must have a local income tax or raise the state tax sales or income tax. Well considering that a number of Jim's supporters are landlords I guess that's not too surprising.

I have often advocated a flat 2 tier tax for homeowners. And we now have the 1/2/3% tax everywhere except Lake County and I believe oddly St. Joseph County. I'm just saying eliminate the 1% tier with a flat tax. But of course Jim's organization wouldn't favor that and I have to wonder if his landlord supporters aren't worried that one day a reassessment will more fairly value their rental property.

So again, I say homeowners should have a flat tax that only goes to core services. Then, and only then, would I support a county income tax or a county sales tax to pay for more optional spending and only if projects of say over $half million would require voter approval in the next regular election.

By the time Jim Premeske of Hammond took the microphone at the "Revolt at the Statehouse" rally Wednesday morning, some in the crowd had begun to revolt against the rally, drifting away to chat with friends or peruse literature from interest groups in the rotunda.

Could this be some indication that his group is not as firmly committed to the tax abolition after all? What is it they REALLY expect to have happen?? The state has been doing about all it can in this area but at some point spending reforms must come at the local taxing unit, not in the pocket the revenues come out of which does nothing to effect spending reforms. Then again, if you are a landlord and want to eliminate your property tax expense by taxing your renters I guess that's worth a car trip to meet & greet state legislators and give it a shot. ;)

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 Post subject: Re: Why Jim Premeske is Both Wrong and Right
PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:29 am 
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I'm not sure how many actual landlords are still associated with Team Hammond, but I know the current tax setup is very unfair.
As I pointed out previously, owners of rental properties in Hammond are now paying 5.6%.
And if our assessment is any indication, there are NOT breaks for landlords as far as the value. "Trending" sent our value up by over 30% AFTER an adjustment downward on an informal appeal.
It all adds up to outrageously high tax bills. I have mentioned before that this property sends no kids to the Hammond schools, uses basically no services from the PD, very little FD service that doesn't cost extra (I was billed $500 for one ambulance call to this address) or otherwise consumes a level of services equal to what we are paying.
The 1-2-3 will be blessed relief IF we ever get it here. 2% is WAY better than 5.6%!

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 Post subject: Re: Why Jim Premeske is Both Wrong and Right
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:52 am 
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Apples & oranges. You start out defending the landlords but then drift over to personal property.

First, obviously 1/2/3 has yet to hit Lake County. Still, perhaps on reason that some rental properties have subjectively been under appreciated is because of the tax rate. As I say, it might be that once that rate finally gets to 3% the evaluations would be more reflective of the true property values. Diane did a comparison of some rental properties a few years ago OTOB and questioned the tax assessments versus those on homesteads.

But to your second contention. I have mentioned before that this property sends no kids to the Hammond schools, uses basically no services from the PD, very little FD service that doesn't cost extra (I was billed $500 for one ambulance call to this address) or otherwise consumes a level of services equal to what we are paying.

The age old question. I guess you can add to that list that I don't use the Hammond Public Library as well, although I still feel it should be merged with the county or PUC. There are core government services needed and whether you feel they benefit you personally or not they are actual services and are actually needed. However a fish museum is NOT a core government service, nor is a downtown ice skating rink or a 100 foot statue or free legal services. A case might be made for city buses, but as they have never been well patronized since service was last resumed justification of that as a core service is highly questionable.

Still, the point I was making was that a two tier flat tax should fund the actual core services instead of the expense and unfairness of these constant reassessments, at least for homesteads. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like the state is very willing to give such a concept a fair consideration, but especially when the people are not unified upon a single plan of attack. You have to keep things for them lawmakers simple. When too many voices chime in with similar but differing points of view all they hear is static and then just go out and do what they please and claim it was the will of the people for "change."

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If you voted for the Dems don't be surprised when things don't turn out quite as you were led to expect. Some might call it pure Marxism. But the problem with Obama economics is there's not enough money in the world to make it work.


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 Post subject: Re: Why Jim Premeske is Both Wrong and Right
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 6:00 am 
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I DID NOT talk about personal property taxes at all. Everything I said was about real estate taxes.
In addition, I talked about our over-assessment, contrary to the examples Diane used.
I have no idea what you are talking about, and we are NOT communicating at all, so have a nice day.
:smt006

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 Post subject: Re: Why Jim Premeske is Both Wrong and Right
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 6:29 am 
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freetime wrote:
I DID NOT talk about personal property taxes at all. Everything I said was about real estate taxes.
In addition, I talked about our over-assessment, contrary to the examples Diane used.
I have no idea what you are talking about, and we are NOT communicating at all, so have a nice day.
:smt006

Have you been following the current battle over property taxes in the legislature? The Republicans downstate want to place the 1%,2%3% tax caps on the ballot for that voters can make them constitutional amendments. But, as things are currently set up, the vote will take place in 2010,before voters can actually guage the impact of the caps on local government services. So, the Democrats in the house have voted to move the tax caps up one year, to 2009, so when the vote takes place to amend the constitution, voters will have a better idea of the impact of amending the state constitution.

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 Post subject: Re: Why Jim Premeske is Both Wrong and Right
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:04 pm 
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I have no idea what you are talking about, and we are NOT communicating at all, so have a nice day.

You seem to have that problem with a lot of people. :)

I think my points were clear enough. I want to abolish the homestead assessments entirely in favor of a flat tiered tax and I have reason to believe that rental units are often under-assessed. And since the thread is about the differences between my point of view and Jim's it is germane to the discussion.

You said, "I'm not sure how many actual landlords are still associated with Team Hammond, but I know the current tax setup is very unfair." You also said, "As I pointed out previously, owners of rental properties in Hammond are now paying 5.6%.

And if our assessment is any indication, there are NOT breaks for landlords as far as the value. "Trending" sent our value up by over 30% AFTER an adjustment downward on an informal appeal."
So how am I way off anyway? :?:

_________________
If you voted for the Dems don't be surprised when things don't turn out quite as you were led to expect. Some might call it pure Marxism. But the problem with Obama economics is there's not enough money in the world to make it work.


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